The Wicked Big Toddlah [Hardcover]

Kevin Hawkes (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Absolutely nothing exciting happens in Maine . . . nothing, that is, except for the birth of one giant baby. "That's one wicked big toddlah you got there!" exclaims Uncle Bert . . . and so Toddie is named.

Toddie's a baby just like any other . . . sort of. The thing is, he's big—really big. That means really big diapers, really big teeth, really big everything. From new booties that wear out the knitter to a bath in the ocean (it's fun to play with boats!), Toddie goes through all the stages of baby's first year . . . it's just a little different for Toddie.

Kids will laugh out loud as they see Toddie get into more and more trouble. . . it's time for giant laughs all around!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—One snowy day in Maine, the stork delivers an enormous newborn to an astounded family. Narrated in a laconic New Englander's style by his sister, this episodic look at the gigantic baby's first year of life is milked for every ounce of its illustrative worth. Diaper changing requires hazmat suits, fire hoses, and talcum powder dispensed via helicopter; knitting hats and booties for the nipper sends a kindly lady with bandaged hands into catatonia; real boats become the toys in each ocean bath, and eating ice cream means swallowing the truck as well as its wares. Each lush spread in Hawkes's characteristic style uses space and perspective to particular advantage as it focuses on the wicked big toddlah. The many bits of visual humor will keep youngsters poring back and forth over the pages. Though the plot is thin, the sheer exuberance of the pictures and title character will keep children's imaginations stoked with the big-time possibilities of life as a giant.—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

When a baby is born in Maine, his uncle says, "That's a wicked big toddlah ya got theyah!" Big? Gigantic is more like it. Known as Toddie, the baby has fingers as big as some of the relatives. It takes two people to give him his bottle. And changing his diaper . . . let's just say forklifts, hoses, and women in Hazmat suits are involved. There's no real story here, just double-page spreads of Toddie and the Lilliputians who are trying to take care of him or, just as likely, getting out of his way. The artwork is terrific. Using woodsy Maine, with its cobalt skies and azure waters, as background, Hawkes finds a way to make Toddie endearing and a little frightening at the same time. Kids will be fascinated when his huge head peeks over a hill or when he crawls about at Thanksgiving, yelling "Hihowaahya?!!" as tiny grannies and little cousins scatter to the winds. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (June 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375824278
• ISBN-13: 978-0375824272
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.4 x 12.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #806,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wicked Good Book, October 27, 2008

By 

Christine (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wicked Big Toddlah (Hardcover)

I have to admit that I think I love this book more than my 2 year old does. As a native New Englander, I love all of the humorous details in the illustrations that I know my own "toddlah" does not quite get yet. I would highly recommend this book as a fun read for the whole family.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, funny book!, October 13, 2008

By 

A. Keane "dubatatamama" (MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wicked Big Toddlah (Hardcover)

Wow! I read these reviews because I am planning on buying it after renting it at the library for my 1.5 & 2.5 year-old children, who, by the way, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! I think they got a lot more out of the silly humor, and (to adress a previous reviewer) believe it or not, never asked me why it didn't actually show the maple syrup being produced. If they wanted that, I would read them a book about maple syrup production (to put them to sleep). Oh, and they didn't notice that the hat wasn't knitted, either. We read lots of books, like "Hippos Go Berserk", and I didn't feel the need to explain to them that hippos don't actually talk, or dial phones, or throw parties. I am so glad you are not my children's teacher! The whole family enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read for Kids & Adults, August 10, 2007

By 

K. A. Harris "Lady of the North Country" (Hart's Location, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wicked Big Toddlah (Hardcover)

I've admired Kevin Hawkes' illustrations for years, and now he's brought his wit and intelligene the the writing as well. Wicked Big Toddlah holds pages of funny observations and opportunities to search for more jokes in the drawings. A wicked Good Read.