Book cover for Something's Wrong!

Something's Wrong!

Jory John

Illustrated by Erin Kraan

Ages 3 to 6
Hardback

Synopsis

Details

23 March 2021
40 pages
9780374313883
Imprint: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Reviews

"John’s text perfectly pitches the jokes to a strong conclusion at just the right pace while Kraan’s energetic illustrations, with hardly a straight line in the entire book, add to the sense of ultimately harmless cringe. The book is also a clever primer on handling embarrassment and how it can sometimes be dealt with by simply changing the perspective of what’s happening. . .This underwear affair is wise, witty, and just brief enough.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

This is a wonderful example of illustration adding further to a very funny text . . . Expect hilarity to ensue wherever underwear stories are a hit with the add-on bonus of this being a great title for discussions on the topic of ­allyship.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“A tribute to friendship. . .Anders’s confiding reassurances and quick thinking make all-dialogue text by John a gift for the readaloud set. He’s capably abetted by debut illustrator Kraan, whose textural earth-toned vignettes are gems of comic panic, dismay, and redemption.” —Publishers Weekly

“Terrifically amusing. . .Block-print illustrations offer intricate lines and textures, and the solid, grounded art offers an effective steadiness in the face of Jeff’s increasing panic. This could be paired with any number of underwear books, or it could just serve as a reminder that the best kind of friend always has your back.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Don’t let the giddy goofiness of an underwear-driven plot fool you; this is as whip-smart and linguistically sophisticated as the rest of John’s terrific body of work. The ongoing joke of breaking the fourth wall of the book is clever, interactive, and well executed, culminating in a wonderful two-page wordless spread that captures the mounting tension of the moment. The story is strongly supported by Balzer’s richly textured and slightly off-kilter collection of creatures, featuring the most adorably rounded tighty-whitey-clad bear buns you’ve ever seen.” —Booklist