Wild One

by Jane Whittingham, Noel Tuazon (Illustrator)

Can you stretch like a cat or hang like a bat? This little one can do those things and so many more as she bounds energetically through her day.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Canada, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2017

About the author

Jane Whittingham is a picture book author, librarian, blogger and all-around book lover. She is passionate about cats, tea, sushi and travel. She is the author of Animals Move (2022), Wild About Camping (2022), Only the Trees Know (2022), Bear Has a Belly (2022), Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up (2019), A Good Day for Ducks (2018) and Wild One (2017). You can catch up with Jane at her website, www.raincitylibrarian.ca.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wild romp of a story.

[Rita Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won "Wild One" by Jane Whittingham in a Goodreads book give a way. I found it very cute with
very happy illustrations. I can't wait to give it to my Wild One. Thank you very much!

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canadian librarian and writer Jane Whittingham (who you might know from the terrific review blog Raincity Jane) and Canadian illustrator Noel Tuazon have teamed up to bring readers the exuberant, fun and all-around winning picture book Wild One. Written in rhyming couplets- a form in picture books I absolutely adore when done fittingly - Wild One tells the story of a young girl's very busy, very active day, with actions mirroring those of animals. Accompanied by Noel Tuazon's soft yet sunny and bright illustrations, Wild One is a lovely treat.

When we meet the young heroine of our story, she is "in the park, stretching like a cat", then moving on to monkey bars, "hanging like a bat". From the park to the pool, to supper time and snuggling in bed, we follow the little wild one about her dynamic day- well mostly all dynamic! When she has to leave her play time fun and head home with her mom, wild one slows down considerably...but not for long! Wild one goes through her mightily busy day with highlighted actions and activities accompanied by corresponding animal actions (energetically and sweetly brought to life by Tuazon's drawings). In a sweet closing spread, after snuggling down in her bed "like a bear", Wild One ends on a loving and continued happy tone, with the young (now sleeping) girl being wished a good night from her parents.

Overall, a joyful, fun and charming picture book. Perfect for a preschool age and under crowd, I think Wild One would go over tremendously well as a read aloud with busy, wiggly and active toddlers. It could even be used by a willing reader to facilitate an action/movement read aloud with everyone acting out the animal movements in the story! Wild One is a picture book that begs for reading aloud and having fun with, due its ideal compact length, clarity, perfectly fun rhymes, and complementary (adorable) illustrations.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Pajama Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Ann Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this adorable picture book. While the heroine is a female, the fluid illustrations and fun activities she encounters during her day will appeal to everyone. The amusing rhymes and comparisons between children's actions, habits and different animals were on point and sometimes quite hilarious. I can easily see this book as a read aloud for toddlers at story time or a favorite bedtime treasure to be read over and over again. Thanks for the win of this super hardcover. It would make a great gift!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet book recommended for 1-4 year olds. The comparisons between children's behaviour/actions and different animals were fun and silly. I liked it a lot, especially the illustrations!

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would make a perfect first baby gift or gift for young ones for repeated bedtime reading! Lovely combination of text and illustrations.

[Lisa Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book that shows one little girl's busy day. I loved the illustrations. I liked the heavy paper and the padded front cover as well.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This padded book with sturdy pages is one that is well suited to be read again and again, which is exactly what I think will happen in your home. It is the story of a little girl’s joyful trip to the playground and her adventures as she explores every activity.

I loved this delightful book for some many reasons.

- The joy I found on every page - especially on the little girl’s face
- Children spending a day outside and being a “wild one”
- The delightful illustrations
- The similes. For example: “stretching like a cat”, “slipping like an eel” and “gulping like a whale”. Oh, the discussions you can have as your little one acts out each description!
- The opportunity to discuss vocabulary like “snuggling” and “bounding”
- The coziness on the last few pages as mom and dad tuck her in after her exhausting day

This charming story deserves to be on every child’s bookshelf. It’s definitely on my shopping list!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bringing to mind Max from the classic Where the Wild Things Are, this picture book follows a female version of that energetic and imaginative youngster as she makes her way through her day. After an exhausting day of mimicking several animals and moving through various terrain, she finally conks out and sleeps as soundly as a bear might while hibernating. The watercolor and ink illustrations contain much action and show two exhausted parents, loving their wild one but somewhat relieved to have her quiet for a moment. It's interesting to see the toll that having such a boisterous, active child takes on her parents, but clearly they wouldn't have it any other way. My favorite image shows her drinking thirstily, "gulping like a whale" (unpaged). Youngsters will enjoy having this title read to them, and they are likely to try to copy all the animals mentioned in the book just like her.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own. #partner #kidlitexchange

This sweet little bedtime story is perfect for the “wild one” in your life! Told in a rhyming form, this story follows a little girl on a happy trip to the park. The author uses clever comparisons between the little girl’s playtime actions and familiar animals. Once the reader reaches the end, we learn who the most special Wild one of all is, and end with a calming bedtime message. The text and illustrations fit together nicely-both are of a simplistic, yet sweet style. This story would be a nice addition to the book shelves of younger readers, in the 0-5 age range.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it a book to start the day, preparing for a "wild" day, or to end it as a tired child, remembering all the wonderful things that happened. In poetry quatrains, Jane takes the 'wild one' in all the wonderful things that can happen in a day – hanging from the monkey bars, sliding down a slide, swimming. But Jane takes each action and compares it to an animal, like 'swimming like a guppy' or 'hopping like a hare' (at bedtime). All the way through the day, until finally, sleep comes, this little wild one is having lots of fun, like she and those animals on the cover show. Noel Tuazon's soft watercolors bring the scenes to life beautifully.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun picture book will have young readers ready to go outside and have fun being wild. The little girl has a busy day playing in the park, swimming in the pool, and eating dinner at home. In each situation, bouncy rhyming text and brightly colored illustrations show her stretching like a cat in the grass, hanging like a bat on the monkey bars, swimming like a guppy in the pool. At the end of the day, she's all tuckered out and sleeps like a bear. This would be a fun way to talk about similes and metaphors. Young writers might even be inspired to share their own wild stories using comparative language.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book follows a young girl through her busy day, showing how her different actions resemble animal behaviors, whether stretching like a cat or clapping like a seal. The action words create ample opportunities for storytime audiences to get up and move, although some actions may be harder to imitate than others (ex: hanging like a bat). I do like how the narration is in rhymed couplets (Ex: "Wild one, in the park, stretching like a cat./ Wild one, on monkey bars, hanging like a bat.") so young readers can guess which animal completes the rhyme. The illustrations aren't my favorite overall, but I do like how the loose, sketchy pen lines add a sense of energy.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wild little girl goes through her day pretending to be various animals as she plays. Short, simple. Would be a good addition to a kinetic storytime (where you have the kids act out the words with you). Not much of a story here, so be sure to pair it with something more involved, but a good selection for a large, wiggly group, particularly if they skew younger.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a bit ago and would have sworn I wrote a review! Well, danged if I can find it anywhere! I thought this book was fun. It was an account of a child's day filled with running around, using their imagination and just having a blast being a kid! Boundless energy! Loved the illustrations, too! So exuberant!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations, fun, sweet story comparing a child as she goes through her day to different animals. She stretches like a cat, claps like a seal, bounds like a puppy, sleeps like a bear and more.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl acts like various animals throughout her day. It has sort of scribbly, but exuberant, watercolor and ink illustrations. Perfect for toddlers and young pre-school children. First published in Canada.

[Asha McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fast read. The beautiful artwork depicts the minimal and descriptive words allowing children to let their imaginations roam. I hope that the next time my kid is at the park he’ll be inspired to play more creatively.

This book would be suitable for ages 2-6.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations showing all the different animal forms/movements that the child does throughout the day. Can be used for encouraging different animal form games/walks with toddlers to middle childhood.

[Sheri Radford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, charming picture book about a little girl who acts like all the different wild animals. The rhyming text pairs well with the lovely illustrations.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can imagine my little grand children being wild like this when they are a bit older.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely watercolor and ink illustrations and great use of similes.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for 2s and 3s ST.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read and a neat little story.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful!

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a celebration of being a "wild one" when you're little.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

My toddler is definitely a wild one so this book was really fun to read. I highly recommend this one!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, rhyming bedtime story.

[mairead! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically a book about A. Loved. Great art and active message.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute picture book that promotes imaginative play. Great for toddlers and preschoolers.