How Do You Do?

by Larissa Theule, Gianna Marino (Illustrations)

Water Buffalo and Crane's field is dry, empty, and hot --so hot that they can barely think of anything else. Every day is the same . . . Until one day, they hear something new. "How do you do?" When Goat dances into their lives, Water Buffalo and Crane can't help but join in. Suddenly their field doesn't seem dry, empty, and hot at all. Even after Goat dances away, their world is no longer so small. This beautiful story about widening your horizons and making new friends, brought to life with stunning illustrations by Gianna Marino, shows how all it takes is one special friend to change your world.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Larissa Theule lives with her family in Southern California.

Reviews

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit choppy for me. Great message though.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Water buffalo and crane are bored and hot as usual when a new animal introduces themselves and helps the two friends see their world differently.

[Nicole Salter Braun · Rating 3 out of 5]

great pictures

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book tells how meeting a new friend can add something special to your life.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you do? byMelissa Theule, illustrated by Gianna Marino. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsbury. 2019. $17.00. 9781619638075

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) –OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A Water Buffalo and Crane are bored and hot. Along comes a little goat and changes the way they see things –by getting them dancing and meeting new friends. Now the heat doesn’t bother them at all –they are no longer bored. Features large harmonious illustrations.

Gianna Marino is one of my favorite illustrator/authors, this book doesn’t give her much of a chance to be creative though –with its limited characters and scenery. Young readers might find it confusing that when the goat starts dancing –in the illustrations there is rain, but its only suggested that he started dancing ‘as sudden as summer rain’. As for the story itself, I like the message of meeting new friends and looking at the positives, but in this story it’s a bit far-fetched for young readers.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's sappy but I still love it. Some animal friends are hot and bored. They meet a new friend and learn to enjoy life more.

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book needs to be more popular! I stumbled upon it at the library and couldn’t love it more.
- Simple enough for a 2/3 year old, but has a powerful message that isn’t over explained. The premise (it’s hot) and execution (meeting a friend opens the world, crane and water buffalo have the same but different conclusions) of the book is just perfect!
- I LOVEEEEEE the water color and the bold colors chosen.
- I love the positioning of the animals showing their vitality once they meet goat, contrasted with the lack of energy they had before.
- I love that they walk around the world 😝
I’m definitely going to check out some of this author’s other books!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Water Buffalo and Crane don't know what else to do except stand around in the heat. Suddenly Goat comes up and introduces herself. Then she starts dancing. After a pause Water Buffalo and Crane follow suit. Soon they are all dancing around the earth, forgetting the heat. Eventually Goat wanders off. Water Buffalo and Crane have learned the lesson, though. They introduce themselves to Butterfly and pass the lesson on.

A bit confusing, but it could be fun for a storytime on music and/or dancing.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the circular illustrations throughout this book. On a hot day, a goat asks the water buffalo and crane "how do you do?" Where they were previously too miserable in the heat to interact, this new friend inspires them to reach out to everyone around them. A bit too complex for a preschool storytime, but a bit older kids might like it a lot!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hot. Buffalo and Crane could think of nothing else but how hot it was. For days on end it was hot. Then one day Goat arrived, and asked them a simple question, and before long Buffalo and Crane found themselves dancing along with Goat, and saw an entire outlook on what was around them.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two animal friends - water buffalo and crane - only focus on how hot it is. They need a new person - goat - to show them the beauty around them.
Lovely message to watch what you focus on to change your perspective.

[Syntha Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

So wierd

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book to use to talk about the importance of a positive attitude.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the message about improving our lives by reaching out to meet others.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle, profound little story about meeting new friends and appreciating the little, lovely things in the world.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a hot hot day crane and water buffalo are surprised by a goat who doesn't seem affected by the weather. Soon it rains, and they play together and travel around the world making new friends.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life is hot until making new friends can take your mind off the temperature.

[Heather Szczepanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrounding yourself with friends with positive perspectives can change your outlook on situations.

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meeting someone new makes the whole world new. Why did this story need to be told with animals, though?

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

During a heat wave and then a storm a group of animals learn more about each other than they knew before and enjoy the experience. Preschool and up

[Gloria Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Great bedtime story.

[Tianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book