WILD ONE

Rhyming couplets describe a day in the life of an energetic, little girl who stretches “like a cat” and hangs “like a bat,” while the illustrations show both the child and the succession of imaginary animals she mimics. Her activities wind up with a gentle goodnight as her parents tuck her, “snuggling like a bear,” into bed.

Can you stretch like a cat or hang like a bat? This little one can do those things and so many more as she bounds energetically through her day. Author Jane Whittingham’s sprightly couplets take her from the park to the pool, to dinner and bed, while Noel Tuazon cleverly illustrates the animal companions of a child’s imagination.

Published in a sturdy format with a padded cover, rounded corners, and extra-heavy paper, Wild One is perfect for sharing with wiggly, little wild ones of your own. And as the last pages are turned, the story’s final, sweet “goodnight” will leave the liveliest listeners ready to snuggle like a bear at bedtime.

Reviews

“Told in well-scanning, rhyming couplets, the child is compared to animals whose movements she imitates…Pen-and-ink illustrations with freely applied watercolors that don’t always stay within the lines are apropos and reflect the vitality of the youngster’s antics….The large font, sturdy pages, and few words per page make this a good selection for beginning readers.”—Booklist

“The rhyming text flows smoothly and has a jaunty rhythm that lends itself well to reading aloud. The playful watercolors start off saturated with bright colors that become muted as the child’s day comes to a sleepy end. A sweet read-aloud featuring a fearless and athletic girl to share with funny little monkeys.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A recommended general purchase, this read-aloud choice fosters inference and opportunity for shared reading in home or preschool.”—School Library Journal

“The illustrations elevate the simple rhythmic text by showing the child on each succeeding page as the very animal she is imitating with great charm. The watercolour and ink drawings are delightful, appealing and beautifully done.”—Resource Links

“Jane Whittingham’s story of an animated little girl’s day is bursting with playful energy and joy….The delightful illustrations by Noel Tuazon are presented in watercolour and ink. They are as spontaneous and whimsical as the little girl’s character and help tell the story of her very busy day by their expression of energy in colour and movement….This story encourages children to use their own imaginations during story time and play….Wild One is quite durable as it has a padded cover, rounded corners and extra heavy interior paper. Great for little ones who may not be quite so gentle with books just yet. Highly Recommended.”—CM Magazine

“We rated this book: [5/5]…The book is fun to read to yourself, and the words are easy, and it’s probably a good book for a parent to read to a little child because of the rhymes and rhythmic repetition…Any beginning reader who likes animals and likes to play outside will enjoy this book.”—Lena, Age 9, Kids’ BookBuzz

“This sweet picture book is sure to entertain tiny tots with its gentle rhyming couplets outlining one little girl’s perfect day at the playground and pool.”—Shari Radford, Where Vancouver

“Wild One is Jane Whittingham’s first picture book and it’s a charming recount of a child’s day filled with play and activity….[she] demonstrates, playfully, that we belong in the animal kingdom, sharing many attributes with animals far and wide….[Noel Tuazon’s] style here is appropriately light, subtle and simple, as complements the story of a preschooler’s life.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians

“Rhyming stories are notoriously difficult to pull off well without seeming forced; most publishers won’t touch them. Here, they flow – and still manage to surprise….Whittingham’s smooth rhyme and consistent rhythm are beautifully matched with the illustrations. Tuazon catches the expressions of a child on adventure just so, and his animals make this reader smile with every page.”—The Book Wars

“[E]xuberant, fun and all-around winning picture book…Overall, a joyful, fun and charming picture book. Perfect for a preschool age and under crowd…Wild One is a picture book that begs for reading aloud and having fun with, due its ideal compact length, clarity, perfectly fun rhymes, and complementary (adorable) illustrations.”—Fab Book Reviews

“A short, fun read that will likely become a favourite for little ones.”—Canadian Bookworm

“[A] cute story…What I also like about this book…is the actual feel and look of it. It has nice weight to it, padded cover, rounded corners and extra-heavy paper.”—BookTime

“The delightful watercolour illustrations draw the reader (or young child) into the story, and the action is enhanced by the simple rhyming couplets. The story is a celebration of childhood and all the uninhibited movement and excitement that being a young child brings….In the weeks that we’ve had this new title, [my three children] have each asked for it to be read umpteen times – a sure sign of a fave book.”—Raising Mom

Awards and Honours

  • 2017 OLA Best Bets selection (Winner) (Canada)
  • 2017 Toronto Public Library First and Best selection (Commended) (Canada)
  • 2017 HuffPost “Best Picture Books of 2017: Best Bedtime Book” Honourable Mention (Commended) (United States)
  • 2018 Resource Links “The Year’s Best” (Commended) (Canada)
  • 2018 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens selection (Commended) (Canada)
  • 2017 Jbrary “2017 Favourite Storytime Picture Books” selection (Commended) (Canada)
  • 2017 Fab Book Reviews “Best of 2017: Picture Books & More” Honourable Mention (Commended) (Canada)