The Itchy Book!

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! #5

by LeUyen Pham, Mo Willems

Triceratops has an itch. . . so does Pterodactyl. . . and Brontosaurus. . . and T-Rex! But Dino-Mo reminds them all of the BIG rule: Dinosaurs do not scratch! What's an itchy dinosaur to do?

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Dinosaurs, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile

64 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2018

About the author

LeUyen Pham is the illustrator of many books for children, including God’s Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams, The Princess in Black series and Aunt Mary’s Rose by Douglas Wood. LeUyen Pham lives in California.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, when you have an itch, you really want to give it a scratch. Makes sense... but not when there's a sign, 'Dinosaurs do not scratch'. Alas, this collection of dinos are so eager to scratch that feeling that comes across the skin, but cannot disobey the sign. One of them is acting like quite the martyr, shepherding the others away from scratch temptation. When, upon closer look, there is more to the sign than meets the eye, things fall into perspective. Neo enjoyed this book as a bedtime piece, particularly because his friend, Elephant and Piggie, make cameo appearances. A wonderful piece for the curious reader, full of laughter and excitement.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: This book will make you feel itchy!
My students loved this book! So funny!

[Laura McLoughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute/silly entry in the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series. I kinda wish that the pterosaur would have pointed out that it is not in fact a dinosaur and could have scratched his/her itch just fine!

(My 7 y/o currently wants to be a paleontologist so I may know a bit too much about Mesozoic creatures than I really need to)

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceptively simple, can the dinosaurs resist scratching their itches? Keep your eye on the turtle; he's the real star of the story.

[Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s funny that it’s called the Itchy Book because books aren’t really itchy. So that’s a funny title.” - the 4.5 year old

I would say, though, that this book proves that books really can be itchy.

She and I have now been debating this point. We are at a standstill.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s kinda funny because the dinosaur breaks the rule after he tried hard not to.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

What a fun book that will have you scratching with relief as they solve their very itchy dilemma. It might even alleviate your latest reading itch!
~Jennifer K.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Premise/plot: The Itchy Book is an early reader in the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series. Each book in the series opens and closes with a few pages of Gerald and Piggie.

Gerald! Do you like books that make you feel things?
I do.
Do you like books that make you feel things all over?
I DO!
Then I have a book for YOU!
"The Itchy Book"?
I feel you will love it!

The Itchy Book stars dinosaurs who really feel the need to scratch an itch...but...a sign reading, "DINOSAURS DO NOT SCRATCH" is holding them back. But for how long?! One dinosaur is insistent that HE would never scratch no matter how itchy he felt. The others are out to get him to see if he is really as "tough" as he claims.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I think my favorite part was when one of the dinosaurs asks, "If I say I am not a dinosaur, can I scratch?!" Did the book make me feel itchy? Not particularly. I think a book about yawning would work better perhaps. I almost always catch a yawn.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and funny story about a bunch of dinosaurs who don't scratch because they're tough (and a sign says dinos don't scratch). A great one-on-one read, but a little tougher as a group read aloud because the entire story is told in conversation bubbles. Still, great illustrations and a fun story.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think part of the fun is supposed to be that all the talk about itching makes you itchy, but it didn't. Kind of lackluster based on trying to live up to an image based on a misunderstanding.

[Jordan Henrichs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and humorous story, as you would expect from an Elephant and Piggie tale, but the message in the end is somewhat confusing.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew the punchline from the beginning, but it was so wonderfully silly, who cares? And besides, I'm not the intended audience.

[Jennifer Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly story with a clear message about recognizing and handling strong impulses

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julianna read this book some time last month. She gives it 5 stars. That day she also had bug bites she says as she is helping me write thus review.

[Joshua Whiting · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Maybe 3.5?)

[Neha Thakkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute, but I’m not sure I “get” it. I love the E and P series and Mo Willems, and I get what their *trying* to do, but I think this misses the mark. Maybe when I read it to a group of students it’ll make more sense? This is a story of dinosaurs, a turtle, and a rock with a sign: “Dinosaurs don’t scratch”. As different itchy dinosaurs come by, they are reminded that dinosaurs don’t scratch. What will happen with all these itchy dinosaurs? The dinosaurs try to prove how tough they are and how they don’t need to scratch, until the turtle moves and reveals the whole sign: “Dinosaurs don’t scratch ... alone!”

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are dinosaurs tough enough to not scratch their itches? Cute Elephant and Piggie ending.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A turtle rests in front of a sign that says, "Dinosaurs do not itch". He greets a dinosaur who reads the sign and wonders but takes it to be true. Soon his friend, a triceratops comes by with an itch that she wants to scratch. The first dinosaur shows her the sign. Several more dinosaurs read the sign and all of them struggle not to itch. The first dinosaur decides to prove that they can do it, they do not need to itch. They try everything to make him itch. Finally the turtle wakes up and moves. Now the sign says, "Dinosaurs do not itch ALONE." There is a very satisfying page of dinosaurs scratching together. One of them asks, "I wonder why don't dinosaurs itch alone?" This is an excellent question for the turtle who now has an itch that he cannot scratch because everyone else has left and now he is alone!

It is said that, "if it's on Facebook, it's true." This silly picture book, illustrated with goofy dinosaurs in bright cheery colors, puts the written word to the test. Is something so, just because it is written in stone? Or on Facebook? Or anywhere? The theme of this story asks readers to question the written word and to challenge what may or may not be true in what is seen and what is heard. A good lesson for all in a digital world where anyone can say anything and even pictures can be doctored into false realty. This would be a great book for opening a discussion on when to question the veracity of any statement one may come across.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know a kid on the planet that doesn’t love Mo Willems and his hilarious early reader books featuring Elephant and Piggie. So when The Itchy Book by LeUyen Pham showed up in the mailbox, my two older girls went crazy for it. It took them all of four seconds to rip open the envelope and snuggle up with their two-year-old sister to read it.

It’s safe to say that they loved it. After a short introduction from Elephant and Piggie themselves, The Itchy Book dives into a story that fans of Mo Willems will love. Written in the same style with speech bubbles and loads of humor, The Itchy Book is a fantastic book for early readers and an all-around kid-pleasing story.

Upon noticing a sign that says “Dinosaurs do not scratch”, a bespectacled dino takes it upon himself to police any and all scratching. As more and more dinosaurs find itches they aren’t allowed to scratch, the itchiness grows out of control. With all the humor you remember from Mo Willems’ books with the unique flavor that LeUyen Pham brings to the story, The Itchy Book is a delightful read for beginning readers.

My kids adored everything about this book, from the speech bubbles to the humor to the colorful illustrations. A fantastic addition to the world of early reader books!

[Adam James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I look for FIVE qualities in the picture books I collect for my son:

1. A re-readable story
2. Gorgeous illustrations (sorry, No, David)
3. Emotion.
4. Opportunities to make silly voices (play with the fluidity of the text)
5. He likes it.

Let's assess The Itchy Book based on the conditions above.

1. Re-readable? Sort of? My son's confusion at the end of the story is only matched by my own confusion. I guess dinosaurs should work together...and ask for help...for one oddly specific dilemma?

2. Check! Love the illustrations.

3. Very funny story - "Who told you that? Some biiirrrdd??" - good stuff

4. YUP - lots of distinct characters to play around with!

5. My son MOSTLY likes it. Then again, he also really likes No, David, so, not the best source for quality book recommendations, this kid.

On a scale of No, David to The Book with No Pictures, this one is a solid Olivia Goes to the Circus.
(Make sense of that scale however works best for you)

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

A cute book all about being itchy. I really liked the illustrations in this one. Each dinosaur is itchy for a different reason as shown in the pictures (tag on shirt, sunburn, bee sting, etc.). I enjoyed the detail in the illustrations. And they are hilarious so there is that.

Overall, the story was cute, although I was expecting the full message to make a little bit more sense after such a huge buildup. Based on the positioning of the sleeping turtle, it was clear there was more to the message than just, "Dinosaurs do not scratch", but the reveal was a bit of a letdown. Plus, I don't know why anyone would carve that message on a rock in the first place. I guess there is a vague lesson about friendship and helping each other out in there somewhere. Regardless, it was entertaining.

Anyway, it was a cute book with really book illustrations. Funny and engaging.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elephant and Piggy like to read and this book is one that they love.

Dinosaurs are tough and so they don’t scratch when they itch. One little dinosaur doesn’t scratch because the sign on the rock says not to. One by one, other dinosaurs appear with an itch that needs a good scratch. Bug bites, cuts, itchy shirt tags and all is what these dinosaurs are dealing with, but they toughen up after reading the rock. Even T-Rex doesn’t scratch. The one little dinosaur is put to the itchiest test ever. Dry leaves, a straw hat, grass, hair and even a cat on him doesn’t get him to scratch. How long do you think he can be tough before he has to scratch?

This hilarious story is fun and silly. Kids know what it’s like to have an itch that they need to scratch. Colorful illustrations and short snappy sentences make this sturdy little book an excellent read for beginners. Parents and caregivers will have fun presenting this story as a read-a-loud.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Itchy Book by LeUyen Pham. PICTURE BOOK. Hyperion (Disney), 2018. $9. 9781368005647

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

All the dinosaur friends have itches to be scratched, but there's just one problem: A sign posted nearby declares, "Dinosaurs Do Not Scratch." They're determined to follow the rule, but when when they get a better look at the sign, they realize they were missing out on a very important bit of information.

This cute book is sure to get kids empathizing with the itchy characters, and they will enjoy the surprise ending. It would work well for whole-class use, as the dialogue lends itself well to a read-aloud. I look forward to sharing it with my first-graders next year in a lesson on following directions -- ALL the directions!

Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whimsical story that is full of joy. On the surface, it is a group of adorable-looking dinosaurs trying to behave as dinosaurs according to a sign and suppressing their own needs.

If the premise to test a dinosaurs itchy tolerance is not interesting enough, there is a deeper meaning beyond all the light-hearted scenes: it's a book about accepting our own vulnerabilities (that every dinosaur can feel itchy) and be bold to live the way you want to instead of following some sort of made-up rules. In a way, the people who enforce the rule may not know the true meaning of a rule.

It's a book about negotiating one's identity, courage, learning, and friendship. Brilliant illustrations and good tempo offering huge room for dialogues between children and adults. The book would have been perfect to be a standalone story without associating with Mo Williams' Elephant and Peggie.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for young readers, this beginning reader features some very itchy dinosaurs. With bright illustrations, laugh out loud humor, and repetitive words make this a beginning reader worth picking up. This book is definitely our favorite from the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series. We loved seeing them introduce the book at the very beginning. Fun aside, we can to caution, this book may make reading fun, and may make the reader think they have an itch. You've been warned.... we highly recommend picking this one up! It's great for readers of all ages, and while it's the perfect beginning reader book, it also makes a great bedtime story.

FULL REVIEW https://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2018/...

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dino come across a turtle sleeping in front of a rock that says "Dinosaurs do not scratch." So when several other dinos come along and they have itches that need scratching, the original dino has to inform them that apparently dinos do not scratch; they are tough!

The illustrations are quite colorful. Over time as more and more itchiness is developed amongst the dinos the illustrations get more red, depicting the irritation. Eventually the turtle wakes up and moseys on. All of the dinos realize the sign said "Dinosaurs do not scratch alone." All itchy scratchy dinos revel in the ability to scratch.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succession of adorable dinosaurs comes to a rock that proclaims “Dinosaurs do not scratch.” As the friends contemplate the message, they become itchier and itchier. The itchiness hits fever pitch, and then the problem is solved by a turtle. I love how the book takes a small but annoying part of life and makes it into problem for friends to solve together. The dinos are of many colors, some have glasses, they are of different genders, big and small, and some read and others do not. Speech bubbles and vibrant funny art make this an appealing book for new readers, for reading alone and laughing out loud.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing that makes a person more itchy than being told not to scratch, and dinosaurs are no different. Pham’s story is rendered entirely in dialogue, but her illustrations of dinosaurs concentrating on not scratching convey the struggle with great feeling with lightning rods to demonstrate the itches. Cartoon-style dinosaurs cavort in brightly colored clothing on vibrant yellow backgrounds, doing their best to present a “tough di­nosaur” persona. Although dinosaurs are popular with the in­tended reading audience, there’s not much fiction to meet the demand, and Pham’s contribution will be welcomed with open arms.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever and amusing story as a dinosaur sees a tortoise siting in front of a rock with instructions for dinosaurs not to scratch. sign on a rock that says 'dinosaurs to do not scratch'. A series of dinosaurs with various mishaps arrive, all are itchy but all follow the instructions. The story is told effectively in speech bubbles.
The punch line comes when the tortoise walks away.
Simple bright illustrations with pages that get busier and busier as an assortment of dinosaurs are introduced. Lots of opportunities to for discussion - identifying the animals, causes of itchiness, the value of cooperation for starters.