Baby Edwin has all the answers, but nobody pays him any attention.
Written by April Stevens ; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
A frazzled ferret mom piles her five literally beastly kids into the car for a trip to the grocery store. Edwin, the baby, speaks in gobbledegook baby talk throughout the trip, but of course he is actually trying to remind his mother of all the things she is forgetting, if she would just listen. The book has a 50s retro setting with fun details in the illustrations: for example, check out the fins on Mrs. Finnemore’s car, the oldest son’s diamond-patterned hipster shirt, or the old-school cash registers. This would be a great read-aloud for someone that can pull off all the different voices of the brothers and sisters fighting and complaining, and of course the baby talk with its encrypted meanings. Many young listeners and readers will surely burst with enthusiastic frustration at the mom for not comprehending what Edwin is saying.
Review by Joshua Whiting, GSD Library Media / Ed. Tech.
Rating: ★★★½✩ (3.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Sophie Blackall – Official Website
Edwin Speaks Up
Written by April Stevens ; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Schwartz & Wade Books
32 pages
Release Date: June 14, 2011
ISBN: 9780375853371
From the Publisher
“I’m Hot! Franny, open your window.”
“Mom, tell Franny to close her window. My hair’s blowing.”
“Figbutton noo noo POCKY BOOKY froppin ROOF,” baby Edwin says.
The Finnemore family’s shopping trip is already a disaster, and they haven’t even gotten to the supermarket yet. Mrs. Finnemore has found her car keys — but whatever has she done with her pocketbook?
Baby Edwin is trying to help, but he’s just babbling . . . isn’t he?
I thought someone might comment saying they really wanted this book, and then I could pleasantly surprise them with a free copy.
However, since no one’s done that yet, I am going to come right out and explicitly state that the first person to dig down to these comments and leave a comment here saying they would like this book will get it for their school.
Oh, and here’s a hint: This summer I obtained a whole stack of picture books to review, and now they need homes in nice school libraries. So, for the foreseeable future, any picture book review you see written by me pretty much guarantees that I have at least one copy of that book to give away to schools who show interest. In some cases two copies. So if you are interested in a book, leave a comment on the review and it just might show up in your library. It also might not. No guarantees. Void where prohibited.
Once again you have found a darling book. Of course our school would love to have it. I am sure the students would love to read this one.
Looks like Vista is getting another picture book. Thanks for looking.