Willy the Champ [Paperback]

Anthony Browne (Author)

Book Description

Tired of being teased by suburban gorillas for his scant interest in macho pursuits, Willy takes up soccer, bike racing, and swimming--all with a notable lack of success. But when chief bully Buster Nose threatens Willy, our hero accidentally decks the thug, gaining hero status.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Browne won the Kate Greenaway Award for Gorilla, a hit in England and America, as was his Willy the Wimp. In this sequel, the timid gorilla-youth is still the butt of the big bullies wherever he goes. Graphic, full-color pictures heighten effects, especially in scenes showing the variety of sporty outfits flaunted by the anthropomorphs. Willy tries to join a soccer team, a bike-racing group and other jock games, but the macho primates sneer and hoot at the little guy's ineptness. They laugh out loud when they catch Willy crying with his sweet girlfriend at a sad film. But the gang flees in terror when a behemoth almost the size of King Kong strides into town. Willy alone stays, rooted by fear, as the giant approaches. It happens, though, that the small one vanquishes the hood, if only by accident, and Willy is hailed as a hero. Readers will echo the cheers at the end of the fine and funny book.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3 In this bright, whimsical and highly visual adventure, Willy (alias "the wimp"), who thrives on reading, music and quiet walks, fails cheerfully at all sorts of chimpy endeavors. "Nearly everyone laughed at himno matter what he did." Then, by accident, he decks bully Buster and wins the cheers of the massive chimps who had jeered at him. Browne effectively uses his full-color palette of emphatic colors for emphatic situations and portrays Willy's innate equilibrium with constant, realistic hues all the way to his accidental, blushing triumph. There's play on pop culture, with muscle-bound pool-lurkers decked in gold and a flashy dancer in red high heels. Although the book's story line is simple, its visual sophistication makes it most accessible to older picture book readers, who will relate to Willy's self-contained success. This is a Champ for reading aloud in small groups or independently. Carolyn Noah, Worcester Public Library, Mass.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books (March 7, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679873910
• ISBN-13: 978-0679873914
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,477,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Willy the Champ, March 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Willy the Champ (Library Binding)

Willy the Champ is a book that allows a parent, teacher or clergyman to explain posititive character traits. This story with its simplistic words and magnificent illustrations chronicals the efforts of a chimpanzee viewed as not apt at doing much of anything to fit in amongst his peers. Willy's character traits include compassion, perserverance, patience, courage, self-discipline/responsibility and self-esteem. This book will reinforce a positive value system that all children can and will identify with.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Try a Different Browne Book, April 4, 2005

By 

R. Long (Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Willy the Champ (Paperback)

The illustrations are well done and quite funny, but the message for kids is not one I'd like to teach my girl. Willy tries lots of things - biking, swimming, soccer - and doesn't do well at any of them. This could be a good lesson in trying to find what you enjoy and that not everyone is good at sports, but the climax of the story left me baffled. Willy accidentally beats up the bully and becomes the hero. I don't get it. It seems he should have found something he enjoyed doing or that he was able to do well or there should have been a humorous end so it is just a fun book. As it is, it is a strange little childrens book with gorillas in bling, pantyhose and speedos and a little chimp who can't do anything he tries. The references in the drawings (Magritte, Marilyn Monroe) were lost on my 13-year-old stepdaughters, who thought this was the weirdest childrens book they had ever seen.