Leaping Lemmings!
Leaping Lemmings!

Leaping Lemmings!

Written by John Briggs & illustrated by Nicola Slater
$14.95
$13.98
3 - 7
Reading age
32
Page count
13
Words per page
AD500L
Lexile measure
Sep 6, 2016
Publication date

Buy from other retailers

What Does Bookroo Think of This Book

Be yourself, think for yourself is the take-away from this excellent and slightly off-the-wall story.

“If all of your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?” It’s a question often asked in situations where someone needs a little reminder to think for themselves, and it is answered several times in this comical book about lemmings–and specifically one lemming called Larry. Larry stands out from the other lemmings, not only in his desire to have his own name, but also in his desire to be his own lemming. His resounding “No!” to the afore mentioned question is, however, initially almost drowned out by a sea of “Yes!” from his lemming compatriots. While this book may struggle to become a classic, with its plethora of cultural and contemporary references, in its witty humor and off-the-wall randomness (pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and hot sauce, anyone?), modern readers will find much to delight them. Clever lemming costumes and opportunities to play “I Spy” abound, and the use of speech bubbles for dialog adds opportunities to accordian your reading of the book depending on how long you’d like the experience to last. Larry’s clever use of the lemmings’ own weakness to save them from themselves is the beginning of a new era of thoughtfulness for the lemmings and reminds us to start where we are in the process of change.

Reviews

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    5.00

    So, SO clever and well executed. The illustrations are punchy and modern and the story draws on the idea of lemmings and the question: "If all your friends were jumping off a cliff, would you?" in a way that's incredibly original and engaging.

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    5.50

    So fun, I love this book! A great story about not just conforming and following the crowd, but being yourself. Super clever and you can tell this book was well thought out. I love all of the quotation bubbles for the lemmings and the great illustrations!

Book Lists That Include This Book

The Creatives Behind the Book

    Author
    John Briggs

    I’ve been a writer for nearly twenty years. I started out in newspapers and eventually spent several years as a nationally syndicated children’s TV critic. I’ve also been a music critic, hockey reporter, education reporter, travel writer, and lots more, but the one thing I love to write about more than anything is history. I’m thrilled to be writing books for Atombank’s Big Biography series. Did I also mention I spent many more years as a stand-up comic touring the country? Yep, did that, too. So, I’m thrilled to be writing funny picture books and joke books for Sterling Children’s Books. I make my living editing fiction and nonfiction for New Author Editing, so I find it a refreshing change of pace to be on the other side of the page creating sentences instead of fixing them. While I mostly write children’s books, I also write for adults and have published several short stories. I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and the Glens Falls Writers Group. (Bio via johnbriggsbooks.net)

    Illustrator
    Nicola Slater

    Nicola’s style is very character heavy, colourful and playful. She takes influence from old Disney concept art, mid-century modern style and nature. On her desk Nicola keeps a mechanical pencil, soft drawing pencils in Ink blue, Ivory black and Chocolate, a nib pen, Indian ink and stacks of cartridge paper. She sketches, scans her drawings into Photoshop where she colours and manipulates them using her Wacom tablet. (Bio via childrensillustrators.com/nslater/about)

What Has John Briggs Said About This Book

Nothing yet! Let John Briggs know that you want to hear from them about their book.

What Has Nicola Slater Said About This Book

Nothing yet! Let Nicola Slater know that you want to hear from them about their book.

More Books From These Creatives

    board • 18 Pages
    Will You Be My Sunshine
    Julia Lobo, Cottage Door Press, Nicola Slater
    picture • 32 Pages
    The Leaf Thief
    Alice Hemming, Nicola Slater
    chapter • 144 Pages
    Chihuawolf
    Charlee Ganny, Nicola Slater
    picture
    Where's My Jumper?
    Nicola Slater
    board • 10 Pages
    Happy Birthday to You!
    Nicola Slater
    picture • 32 Pages
    I Spy with My Little Eye Vehicle Adventure
    Cottage Door Press, Steve Smallman, Nicola Slater
    chapter • 72 Pages
    We Love Bubbles! (Bobo and Pup-Pup):
    Series
    Graphic Nov.
    Vikram Madan, Nicola Slater
    chapter • 72 Pages
    Let's Make Cake! (Bobo and Pup-Pup):
    Series
    Graphic Nov.
    Vikram Madan, Nicola Slater
    picture • 40 Pages
    The Forever Tree
    3.8
    Tereasa Surratt, Donna Lukas, Nicola Slater

Other Books You Might Enjoy If You Liked This Book

    picture • 32 Pages
    Sadie and the Silver Shoes
    5.9
    Jane Godwin, Anna Walker
    picture • 32 Pages
    A Girl and Her Gator
    5.8
    Sean Bryan, Tom Murphy
    picture • 32 Pages
    There's Only One You
    5.5
    Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook, Rosie Butcher
    picture • 34 Pages
    Les & Ronnie Step Out
    5.5
    Andrew Kolb
    picture • 32 Pages
    Jet the Cat (Is NOT a Cat)
    Phaea Crede, Terry Runyan
    picture • 32 Pages
    The Littlest Yak
    Lu Fraser, Kate Hindley
    picture • 32 Pages
    Edward the Emu
    Sheena Knowles, Rod Clement
    picture • 32 Pages
    The Hueys in The New Sweater
    Oliver Jeffers
    picture • 32 Pages
    Me and You
    Geneviève Côté
    picture • 32 Pages
    Remarkably You
    5.8
    Pat Zietlow Miller, Patrice Barton

Book Details

ISBN
9781454918196
Publication Date
September 6, 2016
Publisher
Union Square Kids
Original Publication Date
September 6, 2016
Illustration Details
The artwork for this book was created digitally.
Page Count
32
Words Per Page
13
Audience
Picture
Reading Age
3 - 7 years
Lexile® Level
AD500L
Est. Fountas & Pinnell Level
~N
ATOS® Book Level
2.1
Accelerated Reader® Points
0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz
184923
Accelerated Reader Interest Level
LG

Contribute to this page

Core Score - 60%

More than halfway there—keep going!

Depth Score - 25%

Just the barebones.

Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.