This Is a Moose

Morris gives This is a Moose an unexpected and lively structure. Lichtenheld is a master of texture: His fir trees look spiky; the duck's beret has the soft thickness of felt; and the blue sky, with delicate variations in color, has the opacity of northern morning as the fog begins to lift. —The New York Times

* "Morris' story is filled with child-friendly humor that is cleverly matched by Lichtenheld's comic ink, pencil and gouache paintings. The pair captures personality (lots of it), action and adventure, along with some old-fashioned filmmaking tropes... Certain to elicit gales of giggles. A humorous-make that hysterical-homage to movies and big dreams."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) —

*"Lichtenheld fills each page with serene nature scenes in soft, fuzzy earth tones. But with each interruption, things get downright goofy with chuckle-worthy background details, silly asides in speech bubbles, and hugely expressive fonts that crowd the pages and add a colorful touch of mania to the director's growing frustration. A rambunctious and hilarious story of embracing the unexpected. —Booklist (starred review)

* "The increasingly exasperated duck, deadpan animal characters, absurd situations, and disembodied narration recall an animated short with voiceover, and the dialogue-heavy text and plentiful humor make this excellent material for a rowdy readers' theater production. —The Bulletin (starred review)

With text in bold type and hand-lettered speech bubbles, this title will find itself in the hands of beginning readers as well as those who are a little more advanced. Created in ink, colored pencil, and gouache, the full-color, often full-page illustrations are hilarious, and Lictenheld's attention to detail will have kids scouring every page. The message to break down stereotypes and push past social constraints is clear but isn't delivered in a sappy, predictable manner. A perfect vehicle to introduce such topics in a safe and engaging way, this fun picture book be appreciated by students, teachers, librarians, and parents alike. —School Library Journal

Morris (Bye-Bye, Baby!) and Lichtenheld (Steam Train, Dream Train) preside over loud and cheerful mayhem...Deadpan delivery, sharp timing, and Lichtenheld's antic artwork all contribute to high-octane entertainment that also addresses defying expectations, not to mention gravity. —Publishers Weekly