Alphonse, You're Ruining the Show!

Natalie and Alphonse #4

by Daisy Hirst

From the award-winning author-illustrator Daisy Hirst comes a reassuring and entertaining story about a sleepover at Granny’s house in this fourth picture book starring monster siblings Natalie and Alphonse.

Natalie and Alphonse are staying the night at Granny’s house—and putting on their own play! There will be red curtains, lights, and even yogurt with sprinkles during the intermission. But when Natalie tells Alphonse he can’t have a ticket and be in the show, Alphonse wants to go home. How can the show go on without one of its stars? Luckily, Granny knows just how to turn things around, and after a cozy night’s sleep and a breakfast of pancakes, Natalie and Alphonse are excited to welcome Mom and Dad to their theatrical performance!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy Hirst memorable, adorable monsters return in this loving look at fun stymied by an annoying little brother. Alphonse and Natalie will be spending the night with Granny while their parents go to the theater. The two (not scary) kids decide to put on a show and spend a delightful multi-paneled, two page spread working out the details. There will definitely be frogs. But when Alphonse’s last minute fit of pique threatens to derail the premiere, Granny wisely proposes postponing the performance until tomorrow so that Mom and Dad can be in the audience. Hirst accomplishes so much with her simple but expressive screen printed artwork and judicious use of white space. When Alphonse’s temper tantrum finally erupts, he retreats to the lower right hand corner of an empty two page spread while the trademark handwritten scribbly black text on the left facing page proclaims in all caps: “I WANT TO GO HOME!” Familiar homey details crowd the pages, making Granny’s home come alive: her hallways covered with kid art, snapshots of Alphonse and Natalie in small frames, and most important, the dark red curtained window that makes a dandy stage. The message about the value and fun of imaginative play, the subtle defusing of a potential meltdown, and the kind and steady presence of Granny will strike a chord with its preschool audience. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Emily]

The illustrations are the cutest part of the book. They remind me of the Muppets.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alphonse is a chaos king and Natalie is every eldest sister.

[Y.Poston]

a fun story about pretending and doing a play

[Georgie HK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adore this “I am all the frogs”