Andrea ZuillAnmeldelser

Delightful! Don't miss the endpapers and the verso as part of the story. Lovely illustration and a fun adventure. Reminds me in some ways of Clover by Nadine Robert. Another child on an adventure to save a friend and learning to be brave in the process. Wonderful home!

In today’s world of teaching to standardized tests and homogenized diversity, it is harder than ever for kids who are just a little bit different to find the courage to raise their voices. Sweety by Andrea Zuill takes on the topic full bore will a little heroine that will leave readers smiling.

Sweety, an awkward naked mole rat, is more than aware that she is just a little left of center when it comes to fitting in. She just has a different way of doing things. Like all kids, she would like friends who get her. What she discovers is that changing who you are to be part of the crowd isn’t as great as finding one or two others who you fit with better. And who knows they may also looking for a friend just like them. Sweety leaps of the page in her sincerity and big heart. I would love to be her friend, she is very cool.

The story is bolstered through delightfully original artwork and speech bubbles. The characters who inhabit Sweety's world are full of expression and fun. And despite being naked mole rats, they have a real talent for accessorizing.

"Sweety could be intense." Me too, Sweety. Me too.

cute, cute, cute

children's picture book (oddball naked mole rat looks to find a friend she can fit in with, besides her mom and aunt)
Really sweet story with lots of charm. One of my new favorites to share.

A pampered suburban pooch tries to get back in touch with his inner wolf in what is basically a brief retelling of City Slickers. Amusing ("It's got hair on it!"), with art that borders on the ugly but serves well enough.

Does Sweety need glasses a braces to be unique? Too trite, I say.½

Such a cute book sharing a bit of the dreams and aspirations of even the tiniest of fur babies among us. The illustrations are great, the story is inspiring (and realistic much to chagrin of the pups!), and the end message of we can be anything we want to be if only we have the heart is a great reminder for all.

A very cute book that could be used to introduce acceptance to a group of children. A simple and funny story that most children would find enjoyable.

Marigold the snail finds it difficult to adjust to life with her new baby sister Daisy in this third picture-book from author/artist Andrea Zuill. It both confuses and irritates her that all the adults seem to think that everything Daisy does - even pooping! - is cute. Finally, when Daisy eats her favorite toy, our snail heroine has had enough, sliding away on her own. Or so she thinks. But when confronted by an angry bumblebee, Marigold discovers that Daisy, who sticks up for her, does have her good points after all...

Although I greatly enjoyed Zuill's previous forays - Wolf Camp and Dance Is for Everyone - into the world of picture-books, somehow I found that Marigold & Daisy just wasn't as appealing as I'd expected it to be. The text sometimes felt a little cluttered, especially in the case of the parental speech bubbles, with the endless "blah blahs," and the conclusion of the tale felt somewhat contrived. Somehow the bee didn't seem like enough of a threat to make Daisy's intervention really dramatic. The artwork was cute, but again, it didn't really stand out for me. Tastes vary, of course, and I would imagine that some readers will find this quite a winsome take on the classic theme of rivalry with a new sibling. For my part, I think there are better titles available - Wolfie the Bunny, Julius, the Baby of the World - and it is to them that I would recommend my fellow readers turn their attention, if searching for such stories.½

This story is about a snail who recently has a baby sister and can't figure out why everyone thinks she's the most adorable thing in the world. It journeys through Marigolds (main snail) struggle and how she learns to love her baby sister.

When an over-sized alligator shows up at Miss Iraina's ballet class, teacher and pupils accept her presence, and work around some of the concerns it raises, from an out-of-control tail to issues of what she will eat when she gets hungry. Dubbing the newcomer Tanya, the class take their new peer to heart, and eventually join with Miss Iraina in planning a special dance - Queen of the Swamp - in which this eusuchian dancer can shine. All goes well until after the day of the recital, when Tanya disappears. Is it the end of the dancing alligator, or is something else afoot...?

Having greatly enjoyed author/illustrator Andrea Zuill's picture-book debut, the amusing Wolf Camp, I fully expected to find Dance Is for Everyone entertaining, and I was not disappointed! The narrative is sweet and heartwarming, showing Miss Iraina and the children working to include their eusuchian friend, rather than retreating from her in fear, because she is different from them. The artwork is immensely expressive, and very droll - I enjoyed Tanya's enthusiasm, as well as the watchful side-eyes the children give her at first, as they all practice together - capturing the humor of the story quite nicely. The picture-book world already includes ballerina mice, dancing zombies and vampires, why not alligators? Recommended to all young ballet enthusiasts!½

Fun alligator story!!½

Funny, cute book. Kids who enjoy humorous stories about animals should get a kick out of this one. The illustrations are fun, too.

Having always felt a little wolfish, Homer the dog manages to convince his humans to send him to Wolf Camp for the week in this hilarious picture-book, discovering that life in the wild isn't everything he'd expected. But although he misses his comfortable bed, safe home, and tasty (hairless) food, Homer eventually finds his wolfish rhythm, and has a great time. He returns home a slightly changed canine, one more in touch with his inner wolf...

With a tale that will have readers chuckling, and immensely droll illustrations that greatly add to the humor, Wolf Camp is an auspicious debut for first-time author/illustrator Andrea Zuill. I enjoyed Homer's story, and greatly appreciated the artwork, particularly the scenes in which our canine hero attempts to convince his humans to send him to camp - he follows them everywhere (even to the bathtub!) with the advertisement for Wolf Camp - as well as that in which he and his camp-mates get their orientation talk. The list of dangers enumerated by the wolf-counselor has all three dogs wide-eyed! Recommended to younger children who love dogs and/or appreciate humorous stories.

A dog who wants to become a wolf and his owner sends him off to wolf camp. I liked the parts of this story where the dog is used to his house/city living and wonders where all his luxuries went.