Look!

by Jeff Mack

Everyone needs a little attention from time to time. Just ask our gorilla who will stop at nothing to be noticed by the boy with his eyes glued to the TV set. But for the gorilla, it’s going to take more than a quiet nudge to steal away the boy’s attention. When his usual antics fail to catch the boy’s eye—LOOK OUT! The gorilla has some other tricks up his sleeve.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Books About Books, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

Born in Syracuse, New York, Jeff Mack has written and illustrated a long list of picture books, chapter books, and early readers, including Clueless McGee, Good News Bad News, Frog and Fly, the Hippo and Rabbit series, and Hush Little Polar Bear.

He has also illustrated many books for other authors, including James Howe's Bunnicula and Friends series and Eve Bunting's Hurry! Hurry!, one of School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2007.

At home in Easthampton, Massachusetts, he continues to write, illustrate, and visit schools and libraries to talk about his work. Visit him at www.jeffmack.com.

Bio taken from Jeff's website: http://www.jeffmack.com/short_biograp....
More biographical information can be found at http://www.jeffmack.com/biography.html.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friendly gorilla can't get his human pal to tear his eyes away from the screen. This clever story needs only two different words to teach kids the importance of taking time to read a book . . . preferably with a buddy.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Mack's work is always fantastic, but I especially love Look! In this newest offering, gorilla tries desperately to pull the boy's attention away from the television, balancing books on his head and nose and performing bookish acrobatics, all the while exclaiming 'Look!'. It isn't until gorilla knocks over the television and the boy yells 'Out!' that the television's spell is broken. The boy finally picks up a book, discovers its magic, and shares his experience with the gorilla, exclaiming 'Look!'. The story, told through entertaining illustrations and the minimal use of the words 'look' and 'out', will stick with readers and serve as a gentle reminder to turn off the television, pick up a book, and engage.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have gone from one-word books, to TWO words! A whole story being told with pictures and only two words. Being a librarian and a book lover, this book made me love it more because it shows the joys and benefits of reading.

4/13 Used in my L is for... theme in preschool storytime. A pretty good opener. I had to ask a lot more questions for each page spread so the kids could follow what was going on. (I don't think they would have that problem in a lap-read or read-alone.) I was worried all those questions would start to annoy or bore them, but they seemed to like them. It got them into the book, and they liked the ending.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for the one or two word books which tell so much story through the action in the illustrations, and this one will go to the top of my list to recommend in this category. An important message of turning away from the tv for the power of a book, told in a humorous way as the gorilla tries to get the little boy's attention, but just keeps getting in the way. The illustrations were endearing and I can't wait to share this story with my students. Will pair well with its a Book.

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah! It only uses two words! This creative story about a friendship between a gorilla and a boy captured my heart. It teaches kids the importance of avoiding the TV and picking up a book instead. I am an unapologetic book pusher, so I always appreciate books that promote reading. Readers are forced to use their imaginations to follow the storyline, and the illustrations will make them giggle. This playful tale is sure to capture readers' hearts.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books aimed at pre-reading more than reading. We have an entire book consisting of two words, look and out. How they are put together is funny and makes a pretty good point about the importance of reading. Kids will quickly grasp which word is which, making this a book they can read to you. That's where you introduce the basics of punctuation - how inflection changes the meaning of these two words over and over again. Brilliant and very skillfully executed.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire book only uses two words, but what a story it tells. A gorilla tries to get the attention of a little boy who is hypnotized by his TV and suddenly must think of something else to occupy his time when the TV breaks due to the gorilla's clumsy attempt to engage the boy. A great pairing with LOOK! would be Lane Smith's IT'S A BOOK.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute. Using only two words? Perfect for little kids (this could be the first book they actually read!). And of course the tv watching boy/playful gorilla combination is priceless.

ARC provided by publisher.

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming and wonderful. So much discussion from a book that utilizes only TWO words! I will definitely be adding this to my collection (especially after the 18 year old child asked me to do so!).

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enthusiastic gorilla goes to great lengths to divert a young boy's attention from the TV. Cleverly combining only two words ("Look" and "out"), this funny tale reaches a heartwarming conclusion that will resonate with all those who revere friendship and imagination.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful message in only two words.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this one will find a spot close to every librarian/bookworm's heart. Love, love, love.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy when the television was knocked down. Loved this book.

[Jan Polep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come along on a wild read for the preschool crowd as a gorilla tries to interest a young fella in reading books with him. Good one!

[Ashlee Tominey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Only two words throughout the book read in varying expressions. Lots of tension conveyed. Such a wonderful ending. Glad the gorilla was persistent!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

bookaday #104. Wonderful message with just 2 words - need to share this one with parents for families that need to unplug!

[Grace McCrery]

Look! Written by Jeff Mack is very simple for students to understand. The book only has 2 words that 2 characters say throughout the entire book. While the book says a few words it shows the relationship between a young boy and a gorilla. The gorilla is trying to show the boy a book he is reading but the boy is too busy watching TV. They both get very mad at eachother. By the end of the book we can see that the book the gorilla was reading was about a young boy and his friend gorilla. I would give this book a ⅗ because I think it could have included more words while still maintaining the pattern.

[Peyton Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book only uses two words to tell the story of a kid that can't take his eyes off the screen. His gorilla teaches him the importance of reading and sharing that experience with someone new. I wouldn't use this book for a read-aloud because of the lack of words, but I love the message of this book. Therefore, I would like to have this book on my classroom shelf for SSR.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute, almost wordless picture book. My fluently-reading second graders enjoyed it as much as my ELL kinders. I like the connection to reading, the silliness, the opportunity to predict and really read the illustrations. I will be purchasing this for my library.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

You only need to know two words for this book...look out. The pictures speak in this book as a little boy is watching TV but getting interrupted by a demanding gorilla. But what happens once the TV breaks and there is no screen to keep the boy entertained. He may just pick up a book!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has only 2 words in it -- "Look" and "Out."

A monkey wants a child to read. The child wants to watch TV.
The TV eventually breaks.
Together they read and then fall asleep together.

Maybe today it wouldn't be the TV? It might be a cell phone or a computer....

[Jaelyn Walker]

Look is a great story that has few words that tell the story. I enjoy that about this book, it tells a story through facial expressions and illustrations. It is great to have children predict what they think is happening in the story and what will happen next!

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely creative.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Look" and "out" are the only two words in the book. But the use of the words, along with the wonderful illustrations, tell a nice story of wanting attention.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so this is useless as a storytime book, but it's awesome for lap-sitting. And if you've ever tried to pry a little one away from a glowing screen, you'll identify!

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mostly wordless book, only ‘look’ and ‘out’.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, nearly wordless book that very young children can relate to.

[Chad Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An effective book with only two different words in it

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun and from a teacher standpoint I love that it's a full-size picture book that would be so easy for a young reader to read independently because there are only two words used in the whole book.

[Heidi Straka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Love this book! At the time of trying to limit young children's screen time, what a wonderful book about how a great book can change a young beginning reader's mind to read for enjoyment.