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Mopoke
This is a Mopoke. Mopoke loves peace and quiet. He is about to find out that you can't always get what you want.
Visually brilliant, and hysterically funny, Philip's pictures tell a thousand words, with the support of some very sparse, but hilarious, text. This is a book destined to become a classic.
Visually brilliant, and hysterically funny, Philip's pictures tell a thousand words, with the support of some very sparse, but hilarious, text. This is a book destined to become a classic.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Philip Bunting
94 books53 followersPhilip Bunting's work deliberately encourages playful interaction between the reader and child, allowing his books to create a platform for genuine intergenerational engagement, and fun.
Philip's books have been translated into multiple languages, and published in over 25 countries around the world. Since his first title was published in 2017, Philip has received multiple accolades, including Honours from the Children's Book Council of Australia, and making the list for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2018. His titles include Mopoke and How Did I Get Here?
Philip's books have been translated into multiple languages, and published in over 25 countries around the world. Since his first title was published in 2017, Philip has received multiple accolades, including Honours from the Children's Book Council of Australia, and making the list for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2018. His titles include Mopoke and How Did I Get Here?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 25, 2018
If you like owls and puns, this might be for you. A short picture book with stylish drawings and comical play on words. I like the way it unexpectedly builds up the game matched with the visual jokes.
Giggles all the way!
Giggles all the way!
October 29, 2024
This book is a book of mopokes. There were mopokes and slowpokes but for me... it was a fwiendpoke. It cweated a gweat fwiendship. That one day in the libwary yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
SPOILER: there was a vewy bad word. (symbols @#$&!)
SPOILER: there was a vewy bad word. (symbols @#$&!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2017
This is a very clever book with a wonderful play on words building on, corrupting or extending 'mopoke' - every page will get a giggle or three. Words and illustrations work together seamlessly to create a unified picture book. Check it on Bunting's website https://philipbunting.com/
My only quibble is that some of the darker shapes added to Mopoke do not stand out quite clearly enough - and having viewed the video on his website - I think this may be a fault in the printing rather than the design.
Good stuff for the very young and not so young - something for everyone and a great springboard for literary creativity with students.
My only quibble is that some of the darker shapes added to Mopoke do not stand out quite clearly enough - and having viewed the video on his website - I think this may be a fault in the printing rather than the design.
Good stuff for the very young and not so young - something for everyone and a great springboard for literary creativity with students.
August 22, 2018
Funny easy read for a preschool to 10 year old group. Lovely, fun artwork. Blissfully short. Good combo of unexpected elements and simple rhymes.
August 29, 2020
Adorably hilarious. I'm pretty sure my child will get tired of it before I do.
October 17, 2017
A quirky picture book, not at all what I expected from the blurb. Loved the illustrations, not sure where it fits, I don't think toddlers would get some of the visual jokes.
February 22, 2017
4.5 stars. Read it to my guinea pig, he appreciated the voices I did too. Will read it to my nannying kids (4 year olds) tomorrow and probably get an even better response. My favourite page was "#%*@!" Hahahahahahahaha
February 22, 2017
Such a simple book with a sense of humour. Absolutely loved it because of the simplicity. You can say so much with a few words and cleverly crafted simple illustrations.
March 16, 2018
I LOVED THIS BOOK. It is so simple, a series of puns describing many kinds of mopokes (small Australian owl). It's funny, the illustrations are subtlety hilarious. It was one of those books you'll just want to share.
April 13, 2019
I have just finished reading Mopoke by Philip Bunting. Naively I firstly assumed that a Mopoke was simply another made up or fantasy character but I couldn't have been any more wrong. In fact a Mopoke is a species of owl that is native to mainland Australia, southern New Guinea, the island of Timor and the Sunda Islands.
They are known for a love of peace and quiet, and their eponymous “mo-poke” call. The Mopoke in the book struggles to find the peace and quiet it desires among the disturbances of the bush. Each page has one sentence beginning with “This is…” to describe the owl illustrated on the opposite page, their name being a play on the word Mopoke - slowpoke, fropoke, crowpoke and ending up with nopoke at the end of the story. The books simplicity, humour and limited text promote great discussion and creativity amongst it's readership of both young and old folk alike.
This book I thought was such a simple yet somewhat an engaging read. It was fun and put a smile on my face from start to finish and I would say that Mopoke is ideal for children as a step away from reading slightly more advanced level picture books. It has just the right amount of text to keep your child engaged and challenged but at the same time it tells a lovely story and is certainly one to be kept closeby on the family bookshelf ready for repeat reading.
They are known for a love of peace and quiet, and their eponymous “mo-poke” call. The Mopoke in the book struggles to find the peace and quiet it desires among the disturbances of the bush. Each page has one sentence beginning with “This is…” to describe the owl illustrated on the opposite page, their name being a play on the word Mopoke - slowpoke, fropoke, crowpoke and ending up with nopoke at the end of the story. The books simplicity, humour and limited text promote great discussion and creativity amongst it's readership of both young and old folk alike.
This book I thought was such a simple yet somewhat an engaging read. It was fun and put a smile on my face from start to finish and I would say that Mopoke is ideal for children as a step away from reading slightly more advanced level picture books. It has just the right amount of text to keep your child engaged and challenged but at the same time it tells a lovely story and is certainly one to be kept closeby on the family bookshelf ready for repeat reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2017
The presentation is perfect. Simple yet captivating pictures. Sleek, black book with black backgrounds which you don't usually see in children's books. The pictures are clever and presenting the owl in various situations some of which are funny.
But that's it.
When I saw the trailer for this book I bought it right away. But my first read was really disappointing. I expected a story but you would have to try hard to imagine one consistent with the pictures.
That's what I didn't like about this book. You flip through it in a minute or two, chuckle once or twice and then put it away.
I would say that the description is misleading - "This is a Mopoke. Mopoke loves peace and quiet. He is about to find out that you can't always get what your want."
To me, this does not suggest 20 random pictures of owls.
Also, a lot of the jokes are hard to explain to a toddler. I don't know which age group is both young enough to enjoy a short picture book and also learned enough to get all of the jokes.
I'm not saying this is a bad book but it is definitely something else than I expected and I feel I could've got more value from another similarly priced book.
But that's it.
When I saw the trailer for this book I bought it right away. But my first read was really disappointing. I expected a story but you would have to try hard to imagine one consistent with the pictures.
That's what I didn't like about this book. You flip through it in a minute or two, chuckle once or twice and then put it away.
I would say that the description is misleading - "This is a Mopoke. Mopoke loves peace and quiet. He is about to find out that you can't always get what your want."
To me, this does not suggest 20 random pictures of owls.
Also, a lot of the jokes are hard to explain to a toddler. I don't know which age group is both young enough to enjoy a short picture book and also learned enough to get all of the jokes.
I'm not saying this is a bad book but it is definitely something else than I expected and I feel I could've got more value from another similarly priced book.
January 23, 2018
Mopoke is visually beautiful - the cover is the reason I bought the book. The simplicity of the design and the illustrations are amazing.
I have to be honest, the book is totally different than I imagined it would be. After reading the blurb: " This is a mopoke. Mopoke loves peace and quiet. He is about to find out that you can't always get what you want" - I expected a story and was slightly disappointed. The book is really beautiful and funny. It is basically wordplay- really smart and funny wordplay, though, combined with beautiful and funny illustrations. I liked it better the second time I read it, but was still hoping for something more.
In case you are not quite sure what a mopoke is, the back of the books explains that a "mopoke" is the Australian nickname for the Southern Boobook- their smallest and most common owl. Mopokes are known for their love of peace and quiet and for their eponymous 'mo-poke'call.
I have to be honest, the book is totally different than I imagined it would be. After reading the blurb: " This is a mopoke. Mopoke loves peace and quiet. He is about to find out that you can't always get what you want" - I expected a story and was slightly disappointed. The book is really beautiful and funny. It is basically wordplay- really smart and funny wordplay, though, combined with beautiful and funny illustrations. I liked it better the second time I read it, but was still hoping for something more.
In case you are not quite sure what a mopoke is, the back of the books explains that a "mopoke" is the Australian nickname for the Southern Boobook- their smallest and most common owl. Mopokes are known for their love of peace and quiet and for their eponymous 'mo-poke'call.
November 14, 2017
Mopoke by Philip Bunting caught my eye because of its simple but striking cover. Bunting’s website kindly explains that a Mopoke is "the Australian nickname for the Southern Boobook, our smallest and most common species of owl. They are known for a love of peace and quiet, and their eponymous “mo-poke” call.” The Mopoke in the book struggles to find the peace and quiet it desires among the disturbances of the bush. Each page has one sentence beginning with “This is…” to describe the owl illustrated on the opposite page, their name being a play on the word Mopoke - slowpoke, fropoke, crowpoke. The books simplicity, humour and limited text promote discussion and creativity.
Read the review at www.childrenslibrarylady.com
Read the review at www.childrenslibrarylady.com
September 15, 2017
A very clever book with a wonderful play on words building on, corrupting or extending ‘mopoke’ - the very beautifully illustrated owl. Every page is guaranteed a giggle, and the simplicity of this is just simply beautiful. This is a great springboard for creativity in very young children, and a brilliant way to get them experimenting with different words.
You can say so much with very few words. Stunning.
You can say so much with very few words. Stunning.
November 28, 2017
I admire the Klassen-esque style of Bunting and my 5-year-old belly laughed at every page, with no prompting from me at all. Anyone who can achieve that response in a reluctant reader, is onto a winner.
March 10, 2019
Completely charming and hilarious picture book, which simply plays on the word mopoke. My year 1 & 2 students found it hilarious, although older students would enjoy it too. Glad I have some of his other books on order!
July 1, 2019
Absolutely recommend this book to everyone.
I wouldn't normally add a children's book to my Goodreads, but bloody oath - this is one of my favourite books ever.
I cried laughing on the 4th page so.... 5 stars all the way!
I wouldn't normally add a children's book to my Goodreads, but bloody oath - this is one of my favourite books ever.
I cried laughing on the 4th page so.... 5 stars all the way!
April 19, 2018
What a brilliant picture book, original pick it up because of title, love Mopokes. Story and images sucks you in.
June 21, 2018
THIS SUCKS I CANT EVEN READ IT
June 28, 2018
Mopoke is such a fun book! Granted, it's only one or two words per page so maybe not A+ for literacy development if you're introducing sentences, but I loved this one!!
June 30, 2018
Imaginative and funny!
February 21, 2019
Laugh out loud hilarious, this book ticks all boxes - educational and entertaining. Hard to believe something with so few words can be so effective!
September 8, 2019
Timeless humour. Dry, charming, clever. Illustrations are modern, quirky and superbly designed.
October 24, 2019
Read as part of the Around the Year in 52 books challenge. Week 46: A book with a (mostly) black cover
February 14, 2020
Hilarious. A simple idea perfectly executed and had me and my school children in stitches.
April 20, 2020
A simple book, but VERY funny. Great illustrations and an entertaining one to read aloud.
July 5, 2020
Gorgeous children’s book
Perfect present and a must add to any shelf in a child’s bedroom.
Perfect present and a must add to any shelf in a child’s bedroom.
November 24, 2020
This little book is damn fine - if you need a break from real life take five and spend it with Mopoke.
April 14, 2021
This is hilarious! I had no idea this is based on a real Australian Owl.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews