No Nibbling!

by Beth Ferry, A.N. Kang (Illustrator)

From New York Times-bestselling author Beth Ferry and illustrator A.N. Kang comes a tale filled with fantastic word play that will have kids laughing and insisting, "No nibbling!"

One warm spring day, Derwood the goat planted a garden and patiently tended it as it grew. On that very same day, he noticed a dandelion puff--it was too early in the season, but Derwood was taking no chances. Growing a garden is risky business, after all. But as Derwood inspected the dandelion, he realized it wasn't a weed. It was a bunny! With Tabitha, a precocious bunny who is very interested in all the tasty vegetables, hopping on the scene, what ensues is a pun-filled tale that will leave you saying, "No nibbling!"

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Food, Gardening, Rabbits, Friendship

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2022

About the author

Beth Ferry is the author of the picture books Stick and Stone and Land Shark. Her family has cared for myriad pets, including two land sharks, a hedgehog, a blue-tongued skink, and a heap of hamsters, but her absolutely perfect pet is an English bulldog named Winston. She lives in New Jersey.

Reviews

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 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 No Nibbling!, written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by A.N. Kang, a tale of unlikely friendship and delicious vegetables.

Derwood the goat is eager for the spring planting of his garden, and spends a warm day digging, seeding, planting, and watering – now to wait. Yet Derwood notices something: the fluffy puff of a dandelion, which sends him into a frenzy of pest- and weed-prevention. The dandelion puff, however, turns out to be the tail of a young bunny, Tabitha, who cheerfully introduces herself and inquires about his crop. Derwood tells her to take a hike, and when she returns to drop hints on the appeal of his growing veggie garden, he repeatedly warns her, “No Nibbling!” Tabitha persists in her overtures of friendship (and compliments of his crop), one day offering to weed the garden so that Derwood can rest. But will the old goat trust the hungry bunny with his precious patch?

Cute. A tale of reluctant friendship between an old goat (here, literally) and a precocious youngster is a pretty classic theme, and Ferry puts a pleasing veggie/gardening spin on it here. Derwood’s turnabout on his opinion of Tabitha feels a little abrupt, but the little bunny is so endearingly sweet that it’s still understandable. A plethora of plant- and vegetable-related puns are worked into the text to great comedic effect, though some may fly over younger readers’ heads (“Romaine calm,” for example). Kang’s delightful illustrations capture the colors and spirit of spring, two very cute characters, and some delicious-looking veggies. The length was great for a storytime, and we enjoyed it overall. Worth a read, and Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

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

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derwood the goat has been carefully tending his garden, so when he spots a dandelion puff he is quick to act. But, a close inspection reveals it's not a weed, it's a bunny! He assures the bunny he isn't gardening, just doing soil experiments and sends her on her way. She returns near harvest season, and, just wanting to "chat" engages Derwood in conversation, and when she offered to weed the garden . . . Tabitha the bunny responds in malapropisms that are so funny because they are garden related. "I'd butternut, . . . I'd butter bean home soon." Terrifically clever, a great story about gardening, friendship and word choices.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the sort of quirky, silly humor that I love. The rabbit uses vegetable puns when speaking with the goat: "Mama said I'd butter bean home soon," and "Lettuce talk about something else," etc. The illustrations were very appealing and enhanced the story line.

[Sarah BT · Rating 4 out of 5]

For preschool or older storytime. Love the play on words and the colored text. Also love the sneaky, smart rabbit who plays the ultimate long game to get her veggies in the end.

[Beth Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining, full of vegetable puns, and has a heartwarming ending to boot!

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

yeah but
If you've ever had your garden devastated by critters, you wouldn't think this so cute. It doesn't take many to destroy, one nibble at a time, a whole crop that you've spent all that time and water on.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is spring and Derwood, the goat, is busy working on his garden. He spies a dandelion and freaks out just a bit over the possibility of weeds and pests attacking his garden. And as if on cue, Tabitha the tiny bunny enters. Derwood warns her that he will not tolerate bunnies nibbling his veggies! Tabitha agrees but in their next few encounters, Tabitha drops a few verbal cues that she is pretty intent on nibbling. Lettuce instead of let us. Carrot instead of care at. Lots of fun word play going on. But Derwood likes Tabitha. They contemplate the clouds together - Derwood sees a chance of rain while Tabitha sees vegetables! Derwood is definitely no silly billy even if he is a bit paranoid about weeds. But one goat's weeds can be a bunny's wish maker... Will Tabitha get her wish?
This was cute though the punny word play is something that the youngest crowd may not pick up on. The story is a bit scattered - sort of like dandelion fluff spreading through the air - but the ending is sweet and generous. I probably wouldn't use this one for story time but would definitely incorporate it into displays.
And if you enjoyed the word play in this one, you might like Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen.

[Carol V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a conversational book between Mister Derwood, the goat farmer, and a little bunny, Tabitha. The conversations between the two play on words that either are or sound like vegetable words. Throughout much of the story, the farmer distrusts the rabbit as he keeps coming around his garden. "No Nibbling!"

Weeds, of course, are a problem, and the farmer accepts the offer of the bunny to weed. When the little rabbit finds a dandelion, he's ready to blow it and make a wish! Mister Derwood has a priceless face when he yells, “NO”! The farmer already knows what the rabbit would wish for; readers will be pleased with the conclusion.

The end sheets have wonderful illustrations of vegetables from the garden. What a great book to share with young readers when it is times to plant the garden, take a trip to a farmer’s market, or cook a pot of vegetable soup. This could be a wonderful book for preschoolers matching colors and pictures of garden vegetables and words.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute! The goat Derwood is a gardener who is protecting his new garden from all sorts of pests when he meets Tabitha the rabbit. There is a lot of vegetation terms placed throughout which sometimes fit well and other times they don’t, but in the end they become good friends.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cheesy and adorable. I love the inclusion of all the vegetables and Tabitha is adorable. Derwood is also a fun character. This book has cute illustrations, a good pace, a fun plot. It was enjoyable and I would recommend it to others.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young rabbit keeps popping up to pester a goat gardener throughout the entire growing season, striking in him the fear that she is going to eat his vegetables.

This book contains a lot of food puns.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tabitha the bunny would very much like to enjoy the bounty of Derwood the goat's lovely garden. He manages to put her off and she manages to control herself until Derwood eventually decides he enjoys her company and is willing to share. Let the feasting begin!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Nibbling! is a very punny book about a clever bunny, a serious goat, and the enticing vegetables they adore. Sweet, silly, and delightfully delicious!

[Elizabeth]

The puns were funny.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever puns woven throughout this story of a goat protecting their garden from a visiting bunny. The interactions connect the two and they become friends. Fun illustrations.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, pun-filled story about an unexpected friendship.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute artwork. The puns are fun, and the concept is entertaining.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A protective old goat and an adorable little bunny bond over the goat's garden. Hope to read many more tales of Tabitha 🐇 and Derwood 🐐!

[Annese · Rating 3 out of 5]

A punny story about gardening and friendship.

[Carrie Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book about growing food. Kids loved the puns.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derwood Goat is carefully tending his vegetable patch. But he's worried by encroaching dandelion seeds and a little bunny named Tabitha who seems a bit too interested in his garden. As the puns fly back and forth the garden grows, and Derwood and Tabitha's relationship comes to a head at harvest time.

Awww, this ended so much more sweetly than I had predicted. Derwood puts on a rough exterior, but has a gooey, kind center. The puns in this book are all veggie related and all highlighted in a special color so readers can understand it isn't quite the correct word. They help give a clue as to what is dominating Tabitha and Derwood's thoughts. I may have to give this to my brother-in-law for Christmas to read to his girls since he loves puns and has gotten his daughters punning too. Hand this to other pun-loving families, and fans of unexpected kindness stories.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dig. Hoe. Seed. Sow. Water. Wait. Grow, grow. Can’t you just feel the rhythm of this gentle train starting out on its journey to harvest? As a writer I truly appreciate great rhythm and rhyme. And this book is full of them. Beth Ferry makes it look SO easy but great writing like hers takes years to perfect.
And she has perfected them. I usually hate puns but in this book the puns are genuinely brilliant! And I loved every single one!

A. N. Kang’s illustrations are delicious! The facial and body expressions of Goat and Rabbit are hilarious.

I not only highly recommend this book but I’d also say buy yourself a copy.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Derwood the Goat is intent on being a successful gardener and keeping out all of the pesky pests. One day he comes across Tabitha a tiny rabbit with a penchant for nibbling garden veggies. Mr. Derwood is particularly paranoid and send Tabitha on her way. But she returns just as the vegetables are ripening.

As funny as this book is, not recommended for storytime due to the dependence on word play.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with plays on words -- "Romaine calm" "Rabbits don't really carrot one way or another" -- a gardening goat tries to protect his bounty from a perky and persistent bunny. Great for storytime and for schools & families that garden.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book about gardening with two fantastic characters. The art is beautiful and lush, and the coloring of the text with the wonderful vegetable puns is a treat and I bet fun for kids to see hop off the page like that. Great read!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possible contender for the Mock Caldecott Awards in January 2023. Adorable book for bedtime or anytime. Sweet, brightly colored illustrations. The story of a farmer trying to maintain his growing garden and the "nibbler" that comes to visit every day!

[Erin]

Hands-down my favorite part of this book is Derwood the goat's facial expressions. His eyebrows are killer. A little long for a storytime, there's some cute vegetable wordplay and a building friendship between Derwood the gardener and Tabitha the ravenous rabbit.

[Ersa S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional! I love a good pun and this book is full of them. It was very cute to see the old goat soften for the little rabbit and read as their friendship grew. Will be doing a storytime with this little book for trips to the farmer's market.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derwood Goat, master gardener, bean counter, and cloud connoisseur spots what he thinks is a dandelion puff in his garden. The puff turns out to be a bunny named Tabitha, who is very interested in Derwood Goat's vegetables. Filled with puns and witty language, this read is sure to entertain.

[Hannah DCamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

"STATE YOUR INTENTIONS, HERBIVORE!"

Girl really thought she was being subtle loll
(Real review time: The artwork in this is something I want to rub against my face, it looks so soft and delightful)