Hello Hello

by Brendan Wenzel

This gorgeous follow-up to the Caldecott Honor–winning They All Saw a Cat explores another aspect of seeing the world for young children. Beginning with two cats, one black and one white, a chain of animals appears before the reader, linked together by at least one common trait. From simple colors and shapes to more complex and abstract associations, each unexpected encounter celebrates the magnificent diversity of our world—and ultimately paints a story of connection. Brendan Wenzel's joyous, rhythmic text and exuberant art encourage readers to delight in nature's infinite differences and to look for—and marvel at—its gorgeous similarities. It all starts with a simple "Hello."

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Nature, Science, Poetry

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2018

About the author

Brendan Wenzel is an author and illustrator based in upstate New York. His debut picture book, They All Saw a Cat, was a New York Times bestseller and the recipient of a 2017 Caldecott Honor. An ardent conservationist, he is a proud collaborator with many organizations working to ensure the future of wild places and threatened species.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

JOY! Color! Joy simply jumps off the page.

The artwork of this books makes me happy. There are almost 100 animals in this book and the way the artwork portrays them is stunning. Brendan groups the animals by little things they have in common. He says hello spots or hello tongues and then there are a few animals artfully styled on the page.

I was going to have to look up some of these unusual animals, but we found a key at the back of the book that lists all of them and whether they are endangered, vulnerable or not. I was sad to see that the giraffe is vulnerable. Please, no.

Brendan is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine.

The nephew had fun with this. He could easily read this book and he loved the animals. The book exudes happiness. He loved the animals and all the things it said about them even though this is more of a beginner book. He gave this 4 stars.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more Picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Starting with one white and one black cat thus starts a chain of Hellos that showcase the diversity of the world, but also what brings us together in one great chain. A celebration of similarities and opposites sure to delight reader young and old.

OMG THIS BOOK! when I requested it all I could make out was the bright animals on the cover with a white background. My nephew has been struggling with sleep lately and drawing has been difficult so I wanted something simple but bright for him to draw... AND WOW!! WOW!!

First is the LOVELY AND IMPRESSIVE ART! I mean so, so gorgeous... The pangolin looks like it is armored with real plates, the fascinating elephant seal shows off his large nose, the prickly porcupine and beaver make friends and the whale shark struggles to fit all on one page! The book is a delight, a sheer delight for the eyes... And its the juxtaposition of the animals to one another. There is this visual link that is beautiful and subliminally speaks to acceptance for everyone.

The words are simple; simple but high concept. You can talk about the differences between colorful and bright, neighbor and friend plus get into more cerebral ideas like shape, pose and pattern. Thus the book will last a long time in a home library... a loooong time! Animals are a universal love for all ages and this book highlights them in the best possible way and makes it possible to linger over this book for many years to come.

The message of the book is quite simple but as such can work to a parent's favor in focusing a conversation between them and child in MANY different directions... It's about exploring the world, acceptance of everyone, being kind to animals and the earth on which we ALL reside!

Now for the experience with my nephew... HE WAS ENCHANTED! He loved all the different wacky ways that the animals were posed and juxtaposition together... the turtle and the armadillo, the octopus and the hippo, the lizard to the bird, all through the book! When we got to the end with the names of all the animals he hung over the list and marveled at their names. There was even a brown little girl at the end of the book with a white little boy to represent the human animals!

When it came drawing time he knew right away he wanted to do the octopus, hippo, seal and elephant! And he drew then BEAUTIFULLY! He was officially broken out of his drawing funk and I really have to rave about a book that has such sweet power!! Totally a buy for him so he can draw ALL the spreads himself...

BOTTOM LINE: This is what a PERFECT picture book SHOULD be!!

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This has not influenced my opinion.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perfection! The author finds a commonality to connect each animal and the result is an eye-catching thing of beauty. Spare rhyming prose, mixed media designs, and brightly-colored, happy animals will appeal to young children, while the meaningful author’s note encourages children to embrace learning about and advocating for these interesting, often unknown animals. A simply joyful celebration of animals!

[Niki Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Design-wise, Brendan Wenzel nailed this picturebook. Each spread's composition is perfectly balanced, he uses the gutter impeccably, and one animal leads readers onto the next page with sneaky ease. Simple but not simplistic, this picturebook is great for toddlers with its sparse yet evocative text and brilliantly eye-catching illustrations. The endpapers? Lovely transition from animals in relief to animals in color. For older kiddos who want to learn more about endangered species, Wenzel includes an author's note and encourages kids to get involved in protecting these animals. Wenzel seems at his best and most creative when he indulges in his passion for the animal kingdom, and who are we to argue?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colors, patterns, shapes, spots, stripes, and more!

Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel shows off animals of all shapes and sizes. These long pages perfectly display the big paws, feathery wings, and eyes full of warmth and welcome. I loved the eye contact between the animals! Look right in the faces of these animals and say “HELLO”. Some you’ll know. And others you won’t. My favorite part of the book was the list of animals in order of appearance at the end of the book. There are so many to meet! I’m off to research red pandas, and mudpuppies, and galagos. :)

A cute, colorful read full of wildlife. Sadly so many of the animals listed are endangered or threatened. This book is a wonderful way to start a discussion with kids about endangered species.

Check it out from your local library.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another board book I read to my month old baby in the wee hours of the morning. Beautifully simple, with contrasting concepts and rhymes accompanied by gorgeous illustrations of animals from around the world. There's a note in the back detailing what each species is called and about conservation.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello Hello may be my favorite yet, of all the amazing picture-books that author/artist Brendan Wenzel has produced - and that's saying something! A simple sing-song text is paired with gorgeous illustrations here, as the reader is introduced to a dizzying array of animals, some threatened, some endangered, all beautiful. Each two-page spread explores some characteristic or theme, from color (or the lack thereof) to behavior, that connects various animal species, or sets them apart.

I enjoyed reading through Hello Hello the first time, appreciating the color and pageantry of the book, and then I enjoyed it again, as I read through a second time, looking more closely at each animal and using the detailed guide included at the rear to identify them. Wenzel's afterword provides young readers and listeners with some ideas about getting involved in conservation efforts, and encourages them to be more informed about and mindful of the natural world. This is a lovely, lovely book, one I would recommend to Wenzel fans, as well as to all young animal and nature-lovers!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly clever and deeply meaningful at the same time. Animals, art, wonder, and the way we're all connected, and can be—by beginning with hello.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. Delightful. Colorful. Engaging.

[Essareh · Rating 5 out of 5]

یک دنیا سلام
ترجمهٔ حمیدرضا شکاری
نشر پرتقال

کتاب بامزه‌ایه.
برندل ونتسل آدم جالبی به‌نظر میاد. :٫)

ممنون که خوندید.💙

۲۰ مرداد ۰۴
تخت

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance, this book seems deceptively simple. Basic rhyming text is paired with detailed illustrations of all kinds of colourful creatures. It isn't until you get to the end and the author's note that you start to realize how much work actually went into this book. There are ninety-two animals depicted on the pages, some of them rather obscure, so the amount of research that had to be done is quite evident.

The basic premise here is introducing all these weird and wonderful animals to people so that they'll care about them. Some of these creatures are threatened, so knowledge about them is important. Wenzel's illustrations are somewhat stylized, but they seem to accurately depict the animals, birds, fish, etc. in a fun and colourful way.

I think I actually enjoyed this one more than They All Saw a Cat. It'll be a quick read at storytime, but there's plenty to look up afterward if you want to learn more about these interesting creatures.

Quotable moment:

[Alyx Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! This one is so creative with simple text. Great intentional use of patterns, colors and using illustrations to tell a whole other story. I especially loved the table of contents.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colorful introduction to the wide variety of animals in the world, with gentle clues as to some of their key features, and a wonderful overall message.

[Amy! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. I love his art.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel, a delightful look at wild animals, and all that our furry, finned, and feathered friends have in common.

Using a tremendously clever visual device in which each animal shares something in common with the one on either side of it, we are taken through a wild tour of the animal kingdom and the many unique creatures that are found within it. It could be something small – a similarly-shaped yet distinctive nose, a shared pattern, or a familiar physical frame – but with each of these little details we can see how a giant whale shark can be connected to a tiny chameleon, and everything in between. And at the end, it’s shown that we’re part of this chain, too, and we should do our best to protect the wonderful diversity of life we are connected to.

We adored Wenzel previous book, They All Saw A Cat, because it encouraged readers to consider things from perspectives different from our own, and that sentiment dovetails beautifully into the theme here: looking at the similarities that seemingly disparate creatures can have that connect them. It’s a great theme in nature and in life, and folds in nicely to Wenzel’s personal message of conservation in the afterword. The text is minimal yet effective, and fun to read aloud, but the art is the star of the show, with each of the dozens of animals given a distinct look and character through design and expression. And animal-loving JJ went BONKERS for this one, asking to read through it several times after the first go. A fantastic glossary is included in the back to learn each of the animals’ species, the length is great, and we had a blast with it. The perfect read for any aspiring zoologist, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, in illustrations and message. With simple text and engaging illustrations, it's fun to see so many unique animals, and especially to see the commonalities. Be sure to share the author's note when you read it with kids to understand why Brendan chose the animals he did, and to understand the precarious state of many of them. I can see this sparking some great inquiry and research in schools.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning visual masterpiece! Be sure to read the author's note at the end as the book serves a special purpose. 💗

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Freaking genius of a book. And to think, Brendan is only at the beginning of his career!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic illustrations rendered in cut paper, colored pencil, oil pastels, and marker. Two double page spreads at the back of the book identify the various animals depicted in the book.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joyous, can't miss read aloud! After the first reading, they'll all be chiming in. It's a good book for writing based on the pattern.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is loved by both of my grandsons. The words are short and describe beautiful, mostly never seen before animals; “Hello Pattern” followed by 3 or 4 colored drawings of animals with patterns. At the end of the book, there is an index of the animals. Children 18 months or older may like to look at the animals (not your everyday owl or porcupine!), then search for a favorite animal’s picture in the index to see what kind of animal it is.

This cute book always keeps my 9 month old grandson glued to the pages!

(This is a review of the Board book. I have not seen the Hardback.)

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wenzel has created an beautiful book about animals with a rather unusual premise. The book starts by introducing animals that are black and white, basic colors, then moves to more colorful animals. He continues by introducing animals that have stripes and spots, then animals of different sizes, then animals with unusual tongues, ears, hands and noses. It's a brilliant strategy starting with the simple (black and white cats) to the more complex. What makes it even more brilliant is the way he matches animals who are different but who have one major thing in common, such as a whale shark, and a spotted chameleon, a proboscis monkey and an elephant seal, a porcupine and an echidna. The last animal from the previous page greets (Hello) the new set of animals making for a continuous line of animals. Thankfully Wenzel includes a list of all the animals in the back of the book. This is a good thing because I didn't know all the animals and neither will child readers. When I read the book to a class of second graders they had a blast trying to guess the ones they didn't know though. It also turns out that Wenzel has highlighted animals that are threatened or endangered, and in the author's note at the end of the book encourages young readers to find out more about these animals and support those who are trying to save them. The book is a beautiful combination of brilliant illustrations, connections, and introduction to a fascinating and important topic.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book will delight young readers, saying hello to different animals. Read the spare rhymes slowly, encouraging readers to notice how the animals are similar and different. "Hello Stripes. Hello Spots." Sure, tigers have stripes and cheetahs have spots, but what about fish and lizards? Which they have stripes and spots, too! I especially love the way Wenzel gives clues on each page of what's coming next--the whale shark's spotted tail, leads into: "Hello Giant. Hello Not." Wenzel's animals are full of life, and a key in the back will help eager readers to learn all of their names.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful animal art. The rhyme falters once near the end, but the rhythm is excellent, though stopping to enjoy the pictures would probably break the reading pattern. I am not sure if I'd use this for a group, but I would for any animal loving child. The end notes name all the specific breeds of animals, with depressing information on the fact that many are endangered, but overall there is charm and a subtle message about the wonders and variety of the animal world.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun title, with sparse words the author/illustrator draws attention with colorful animals on white backgrounds to various features of animals: spots, stripes, colors, habits, etc. Included are four pages of silhouettes identifying the 94 animals presented in the non cluttered illustrations with a listing of their conservation status.
Super visual experience.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello gorgeous illustrations with all the little details. I love the animals, and the simple text. However, I love the way the story is told in the pictures as well. I love that the animal on the far right of the page is the first animal on the left of the next page.

Stunning book. I wouldn't mind owning this one. I think art teachers could read this one in their class.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations in this story about the many amazing animals and wondrous creatures around our world. Author Brendan Wenzel includes an appendix of the animals in the illustrations along with a Work Cited for where he found his data on the animals' statuses.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putting this on my list of books to buy for my own collection. Beautiful and unique illustrations. Loved looking up all the different animals he illustrated (there's a list in the back). Lilting, rhythmic text.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This happy, vibrant book introduces a variety of exotic animals, and will be an instant attention-grabber for kids.

[J. Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice and colorful, gentle book about animals.

For the animal-lover in us all!