The Children’s Book Review | December 17, 2019
The Children’s Book Review: Which five words best describe You Loves Ewe?
Cece Bell: Love. Silly. Homonyms. Confusion. Persnickety.
Can you share a highlight from the book? Or maybe your thoughts on, or an excerpt of, your favorite sentence, paragraph, or page?
Here’s my favorite conversation that takes place between Yam and Donkey:
Yam: Ewe is the cutest! Ewe is the fluffiest! In fact…I am in LOVE with EWE!
Donkey: You is in LOVE? With ME? Oh, Yammy, I love YOU!
If you had to take a vacation with one of the characters from You Loves Ewe, who would it be? Why?
Ewe, because she communicates with little signs, so it’s almost like she has her own closed captions. I’d always understand her!
What has been the best reaction from a reader, so far?
Ronny Khuri, a reviewer from Booklist, came up with a great expression for what Yam does when he fusses at Donkey in his know-it-all way: Yam-splaining. Greatest word ever.
What’s on your nightstand? Any books?
A New Yorker magazine that’s been open on the same page for months because zzzzzzzzz…
For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?
Sugar, but it makes me mean so I try to take a walk instead!
Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?
All of the above.
Can you tell us one more thing we may not know about You Loves Ewe, your writing style, or yourself?
I keep trying to write something serious or some non-fiction thingamajig and it just ain’t happening. My brain always veers towards the goofy and before I know it, I’ve got some important historical figure saying “pull my finger.” Ugh.
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Written and Illustrated by Cece Bell
Publisher’s Synopsis: A side-splittingly funny picture book about a silly donkey, a cranky yam, and an irresistible ewe, packed with hilarious homonyms and the distinctive humor of Newbery Honoree Cece Bell. For fans of P is for Pterodactyl.
Hilarity meets homonyms in this high-comedy companion to I Yam a Donkey by Cece Bell. A persnickety spud, Yam, introduces the grammar-challenged Donkey to a new friend, Ewe, a lady sheep. The confusion between “ewe” and “you” results in a fabulously funny series of who’s-on-first misunderstandings, even though Yam explains the concept of homonyms to Donkey clearly enough for the youngest of readers to understand. Heightening the humor is an over-the-top love triangle, because everyone is in love with You. Err, Ewe. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day!
Ages 4-7 | Publisher: Clarion Books | November 26, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-1328526113
Buy the Book
About the Author-Illustrator
Cece Bell has written and illustrated many books for children, among them the beloved Sock Monkey books, the Geisel Award-winning Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover, and the Newbery Honor-winning graphic novel El Deafo. She and her husband, author Tom Angleberger, have also collaborated on the picture book Crankee Doodle and the Inspector Flytrap chapter book series. She lives in Virginia with her family.
cecebell.wordpress.com | Twitter @CeceBellBooks
This speed interview with Cece Bell, author-Illustrator of You Loves Ewe!, was conducted by Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Cece Bell, Donkey Books, Humorous Books, Picture Book, Sheep, and Valentine’s Day Books. Be sure to follow along with our Speed Interview series, too.