{"id":31737,"date":"2017-01-14T00:28:59","date_gmt":"2017-01-14T04:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31737"},"modified":"2017-01-14T00:28:59","modified_gmt":"2017-01-14T04:28:59","slug":"review-of-nanettes-baguette-by-mo-willems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31737","title":{"rendered":"Review of Nanette’s Baguette, by Mo Willems"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Nanette\u2019s Baguette<\/p>\n

by Mo Willems<\/p>\n

Hyperion Books for Children, 2016. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2016 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>: #3 Picture Books<\/p>\n

Hooray! A new Mo Willems book! With new characters!<\/p>\n

Mo Willems recently spent significant time in Paris, so some of his recent books have a French theme. Nanette\u2019s Baguette<\/em> is a story with all the fun of any Mo Willems book about a frog who gets to go buy a baguette all by herself for the very first time.<\/p>\n

My one quibble? Frogs with teeth able to Krack into baguettes? Okay, it\u2019s odd, but he makes it work.<\/p>\n

The book is full of \u2013ette rhymes, and they are done well and add to the humor.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the beginning:<\/p>\n

NANETTE!<\/p>\n

Today is a day Nanette won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n

Today,
\nin the kitchenette,
\nMom tells Nanette
\nthat Nanette gets
\nto get the baguette!<\/p>\n

Baguettes are warm.
\nBaguettes smell wonderful.<\/p>\n

Getting to get the baguette is
\nNanette\u2019s biggest responsibility yet.<\/p>\n

Is Nanette set to get the baguette?<\/p>\n

YOU BET!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When Nanette gets the baguette, it indeed is warm. It indeed smells wonderful. And there sure is a lot of it\u2026.<\/p>\n

Or at least there\u2019s a lot of it for awhile.<\/p>\n

After much drama, here\u2019s the scene when she gets home:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is the baguette, Nanette?\u201d asks Mom. Did you forget?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nanette did not forget.
\nNanette is upset.
\nNanette is beset with regret.
\nShe sweats.
\nI ATE THE BAGUETTE!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mom is understanding and kind. (I love that Mom\u2019s hug is as warm and wonderful as a million baguettes.) They go back to get another baguette. But that baguette, too, is warm and smells wonderful. This time Mom is the one who\u2019s tempted\u2026.<\/p>\n

The illustrations in this book are amazing. A note at the back explains, \u201cThe images in this story are comprised of photographed handcrafted cardboard-and-paper constructions digitally integrated with photographed illustrations and additions.\u201d On the back flap, there are some small pictures of Mo Willems creating it, so you can see the small village with the creator standing behind it.<\/p>\n

I was going to say that the pigeon isn\u2019t hidden in this book \u2013 and then I found him in a clever place. So that will please Mo Willems\u2019 many fans.<\/p>\n

Again, I\u2019m not so sure about frogs. I wouldn\u2019t be sure they actually are frogs except for the pictures on the wall in their house. (Teeth? Really?) But his simple cartoon characters always do work. As always, I like the way he can put so much emotion into such seemingly simple faces.<\/p>\n

And it begs to be read aloud. So much fun as it rolls off your tongue! I\u2019m definitely using this book for my very next storytime.<\/p>\n

Nanette\u2019s Baguette<\/em> may be Mo\u2019s best yet!<\/p>\n

pigeonpresents.com<\/a>
\nhyperionbooksforchildren.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/nanettes_baguette.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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