Book Description
for Terrific! by Sophie Gilmore
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Five friends (Badger, Anteater, Owl, Turtle, and Mandrill) try to think of something terrific to do but it’s hard to reach consensus when all have different opinions about what is terrific. Anteater believes climbing is terrific, Turtle suggests swimming, and Mandrill proposes hanging from one’s toes. In each instance, the one with the idea is satisfied while the rest of the group is less enthused. Snake displays questionable motives when he joins the group and notes that “squeezing things tightly in my coils is terrific” and also “It’s terrific to swallow an animal whole.” At the end of the day, having found no agreed-upon terrific activity, the exhausted friends collapse and Snake encircles them, exclaiming, “Eating together is terrific.” Breaking free of Snake’s coils, Owl grabs Snake in her beak, and the relieved friends agree that eating together is terrific. Everyone is shown eating a species-appropriate snack, with Snake is nowhere to be seen, although Owl looks particularly full. Repetition and humorous understatement drive the narrative, while expressive faces and body language add nuance to the muted watercolor and pen illustrations. (Ages 3-7)
CCBC Choices 2022. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2022. Used with permission.