Not Cute

by Philip Bunting

Quokka did not like being cute. Not one bit. The romping, stomping, chomping tale of one stubbornly adorable marsupial.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 26, 2020

About the author

Philip 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?

Reviews

[Clare Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best ending to a picture book, ever.

Storytime will never be the same again.

[Sharni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. Also, cute.

[Sonya Bright]

I liked this one. And the twist at the end! Such a clever little book that adults can enjoy alongside kids.

Sweet and silly at the same time.

[Freddie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very dark and funny look at the (adorable) quokka!

[Kate Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed my way to the very grim ending :D

"The stubborn listen to nobody's advice and become a victim of their own delusions." Aesop

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quokka is an attention seeking creature that hate being considered cute. He impersonates a series of Australian animals to no affect for audience that increases by one for each transformation. But as quokka becomes increasingly frustrated at still being considered cute he becomes 'to big for his boots' and starts to get angry and aggressive. There is an abrupt and ending to the issue that one can only think serves him right - a moral at the end of the tale?

Stylised simple illustrations in muted colours spread across a double page with the simple and large print text on white space underneath. There is not a lot of reading to this book, and young readers, once they recognise the animals' names, will be able to read this independently.

Shorlisted for the 2021 Picture Book of the Year awards (but i think more suited to the Early Childhood category).

[Paul Graham Terpstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny book! Well done and enjoyable!
Though it looks strangely like others I’ve seen around, same page layout and illustration style! Everything’s the same, just different name on the cover! Jon Klassen

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story about a quokka who dresses up in different costumes because he hates being called cute, but he's cute in the costumes as well. Eventually he becomes too cocky and ends up being eaten by a snake.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not objecting to the ending per se, but to the overall message that it's okay to let others define your identity and capabilities. It's not okay, and I cannot support any presentation that presents it as so.

[Mia Le]

it was a good book

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not cute. This is hilarious! The end was awesome and completely unexpected!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

You ARE cute!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun Klassen-esque story about a quokka that's sick of being cute, featuring lots of Aussie animals.

[Christine Meunier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids enjoyed this.

[Guilherme Semionato]

3,5. Delicious stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17Kl5...

[Dimity Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love it. Especially the not-always-a-happy-ending face wham!

[Chils27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

never too cute to be eaten. Aussie animals.

[bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun, and what a GREAT twist at the end. I actually laughed out loud!

[Lara Bate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a quokka who doesn't want to be cute so copies other animals. In the end, a snake eats him.

[Zsofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smart and funny. I enjoyed it.

[ADakota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. :)

[Georgina Rump · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it but doesn’t seem to go anywhere. The ending is also a bit sharp and doesn’t really make sense easily. Requires guidance for you get readers to understand

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the reference to an Aesop fable at the end - the stubborn listen to nobody's advice and become a victim of their own delusions.

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I was more shocked at the ending than my 5 year old. Quokkas are the cutest marsupials I hope to one day meet.