Lawn to Lawn

by Dan Yaccarino

Not everyone loves lawn ornaments. But Pearl was different. Pearl was their friend—the only human who knew they were real.So when Pearl’s family moves and (shockingly!) leaves their pink flamingo, deer, gnome, and lawn jockey behind, Flo, Betty, Norm, and Jack know what they must do. They must find Pearl no matter how long and perilous the journey.Through cities and suburbs, over mountains and through swamps, the ornaments make their dangerous way. They survive storms and menacing gargoyles. They get directions from weather vanes and other statuary. And always, always, they must avoid the dreaded trash truck!In this hysterical and quirky tale of toys-come-to-life, Dan Yaccarino reminds us that home is where the heart is and that no journey is too difficult when it leads to the one you love.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Adventure, Friendship, Fiction, Humor, Juvenile

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Exhibitions of his work have been held throughout the world. He is also the creator of the animated TV Series Willa's Wild Life and Oswald.

Mr. Yaccarino lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[The Library Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very little kid appeal. Odd coming from Yaccarino.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I like the idea (lawn ornaments set off in search of their owner, who has moved), and I like the art (I like Yaccarino's kitschy style, though I like his Costeau biography style best), but the plot was totally rambly. For one thing, it's never entirely clear which lawn ornament has which name. It just... rambled, without a clear buildup of action and with muddled jokes lost in the story -- no good zingy punchlines. Awesome premise, bad execution.

[Jennifer]

The story is sweet if not spectacular, but the very mid-century modern illustrations and design are to die for.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a classic moving-on-up tale, Pearl's family moves from their current house to Ritzy Estates, accidentally? leaving their 4 lawn ornaments behind (a flamingo, a gnome, a jockey, and a deer).

In the first page where we meet the ornaments and Pearl, she looks no more real than they do.

It's hard to tell which ornament has which name.

The lawn ornaments set off to find Pearl. It is apparently quite a distance and takes days and days. They are always hiding from the feared trash truck.

The idea of the plot is okay. The plot as carried out on each page leaves much to be desired.

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story about some lawn ornaments that are accidentally left behind when their owner packs up and leaves. They find the name of the development and set off on their own to find it. The ornaments are not very good with directions and travel all over the place and get stuck. Then the worst thing ever happens to them: the trash truck. Luckily, the trash truck actually took them to the right place and they were reunited with their owner.

Kind of a boring story with uninteresting characters.

[Cassie Veselovsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. Normally I can find something funny or enjoyable in most any picture book... but alas, I came up empty with Lawn to Lawn. The idea sounded very amusing, yet it simply didn't work. I couldn't understand why Pearl would leave the much loved yard ornaments behind without saying anything to her parents, and the story just didn't flow naturally?!? But who knows, I'm sure some kids in the library will check it out and enjoy it!

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

After being left behind when their owners move, four lawn ornaments set off in search of the little girl who loves them.

This story reminded me of The Brave Little Toaster.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story started out vague and didn't get much better.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Midcentury Modern design of the illustrations. My daughter found the book confusing, however, as it is never explained which character is which and the story seemed to jump around.

[Lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lawn ornaments on a journey. I liked it

[Juli Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lackluster adventure.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute pictures. Odd story about lawn ornaments and the owner worth traveling across the city to find.

[Catarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty book, and the story was fun. There were a few times I wasn't sure who was speaking, but for a children's book it was good.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations 5/5
Text 2/5

Maybe this would have been better as a wordless picture book.

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's ... fine? I appreciate the colors, and the idea of the story, but I can't see kids really reaching for this again and again.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawn to Lawn by Dan Yaccarino is a page-turning quest following four heroes in search of their best friend. Four lawn ornaments, who are secretly alive, accidentally get left behind when their friend Pearl moves to a new house. Having never been away from the yard, the lawn ornaments must decide whether the treacherous journey that stands between them and Pearl is worth the risk. Off these brave heroes go, staying incognito and making new friends along the way. Will they find Pearl before the trash truck gets them? This story is an imaginative frolic that uses bright colors and cartoon style illustrations to depict the secret world of lawn ornaments. The pictures are telling a more elaborate story than the words are, with humorous details to liven up the somewhat simple telling of the journey. The use of thick lines and blurred colors bring to mind a sketchy, chalk-like mural.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are what we have grown to expect from Yaccarino, bright, crisp and beautyful! The story, that of lawn ornaments left behind after their owners' "move-up" from the countryside to "Ritzy Estates" is full of exciting adventures, until they are finaly reunited with young Pearl (who knew they'd come).

Though this adorable picture book does not work well for storytime,it may be enjoyed be independent readers or when shared with a parent.

The telling feels a little bit long and the action moves a bit slow for a storyhour program. There are about three stops in their journey that could have been edited to keep the momentum going, and children's attention.

I would not recommend for reading aloud, but definitely for your Juvenile collection...

[Loren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why I did NOT like this book (I am a huge Dan Yaccarino fan)so I wanted to like this book! The illustration style is classic Yaccarino but his classic style simplicity is lost in this book. My favorite pages are the endflaps and title page for after that there is way too much going on and it is hard to keep track of the story, characters and narrative. In addition it is often hard to tell which character (Lawn Ornanment) is referred to throghout the story. Although I don't a lawn ornament, I am a huge fan and was rooting for this book ... too bad it did not work for me.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lawn ornaments in Pearl's yard are devastated when the family moves and they are left behind. Only Pearl knows the decorations are real. The pink flamingo, deer, jockey and garden gnome decide to follow a map they found in the driveway until they are reunited with Pearl. Danger lurks around every corner in the form of the garbage truck. Will Pearl and the decorations have a joyous reunion? Or will they suffer a tragic end in the trash heap? Dan Yaccarino's illustrations are perfect for his quirky little story about lawn ornaments

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. Normally I can find something funny or enjoyable in most any picture book... but alas, I came up empty with Lawn to Lawn. The idea sounded very amusing, yet it simply didn't work. I couldn't understand why Pearl would leave the much loved yard ornaments behind without saying anything to her parents, and the story just didn't flow naturally?!? But who knows, I'm sure some kids in the library will check it out and enjoy it!

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read some of the other reviews of this book because I really wanted to like this one. I agree with some of the other rewiers that while this book has a great story idea, lawn ornaments who get left behind in a move and set out to find their owners.

The story though was just not great. Certainly this book would not be a great read aloud, but I see students liking it if they read it on their own or with a parent (who can help explain some of the more vague moments).

[Jennifer Bacall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lawn to Lawn is about a group of lawn ornaments that go on a quest to return to their owner, a girl named Pearl who has moved away. I love many books by Dan Yaccarino and conisder The Fantastic Undersea Adventures of Jacques Cousteau one of the best children's picture books in the recent years, but this one just didn't quite materialize. The endpapers of the book are unfortunately, the best part. The story is awkward and clunky and predictible.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Lawn ornaments make a come-back in this charming picture book. It tells the story of four lawn ornaments: a flamingo, gnome, horse racing jockey, and deer, who are forgotten and left behind when their owner, a little girl named Pearl, moves to a new home. Determined to find Pearl, the lawn ornaments leave the safety of their lawn, trying to avoid the dreaded trash truck and encountering many other types of statues on the way.

-Kelly M.H.

[Dayna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh I had such high hopes for this book. We really liked Mr Yaccarino's book on Jacques Cousteau. When I saw his name on the cover along with the vintage style illustrations and a story of lawn ornaments searching for their owner I thought it would be a huge win. I was sadly disappointed. The story was disjointed and lack luster.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually am a pretty big Yaccarino fan. I still am; just not of this book.

The illustrations are great. Maybe this would have done better as a wordless picture book because the text was a bit rambling, distracting and just play weird in places. I kept thinking I must have skipped a couple of pages as I was reading this book out loud to my son.

Still -- great illustrations!

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pair with even though I'm not super excited about either one.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

wow. the concept of the lawn ornaments in search of their former owner could have been amusing...but this book just misses the mark. had to sing the song from Bolt Barking at the Moon (there is no home...)during the travel sequences in order to keep the girls interested.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually, I love Dan Yaccarino's books, but this one was huge letdown. There were no transitions from page to page. The storyline was disjointed. A story about lawn ornaments could be very clever but this one was poorly executed.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the illustrations the most, especially Norm the Gnome!