2017 Caldecott Honor Book
Written and Illustrated by Carson Ellis
“Du iz tak? What is that? As a tiny shoot unfurls, two damselflies peer at it in wonder. When the plant grows taller and sprouts leaves, some young beetles arrive to gander, and soon— with the help of a pill bug named Icky—they wrangle a ladder and build a tree fort. But this is the wild world, after all, and something horrible is waiting to swoop down—booby voobeck!—only to be carried off in turn. Su! With exquisitely detailed illustrations and tragicomic flair, Carson Ellis invites readers to imagine the dramatic possibilities to be found in even the humblest backyard. Su!” –from the publisher.
Not a traditionally readable book. The only words are nonsense words that the bugs use to communicate. The illustrations are full of details and tell several stories. This is a book that you can reread several times and find new things each time. Students and teachers will enjoy this book.
Review by Jessica Riggs, Robert Frost Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-2
Du Iz Tak?
Written and Illustrated by Carson Ellis
Candlewick Press
48 pages
Release Date: October 16, 2016
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
My manager at Kearns library and I had a deep discussion about this book earlier this week. Our feelings were very different about it. I feel that it’s one I’m going to pass on.
Introduced this one (as well as Ellis’ other book Home) to my 6- and 4-year-old kids a week ago, and they want to re-read one or the other of them every night now. They especially love the made-up language of this book and quote it regularly now, and pore over all the details and funny things in the illustrations of the bugs.
I’ve seen this on a couple lists and I checked it out from the public library, but I’ve yet to read it. I’m anxious to go home now and see what my take is on it.