Told with wit, a wink, and a delightfully dark sense of humor, POOR LITTLE GUY by author/illustrator Elanna Allen (Dial; On sale June 7, 2016; $16.99; Ages 3-5) celebrates the very smallest and all of their giant victories.
Kirkus Reviews called POOR LITTLE GUY “wickedly funny” adding, “The book at times recalls Jon Klassen’s This Is Not My Hat in both subversive humor and minimalist aesthetic… [It] packs a punch. A clear victory for a pufferfish and, more importantly, readers.”
Synopsis:
What do you do when you’re so tiny that the bigger ocean creatures think you might even taste adorable?
An itsy-bitsy, glasses-wearing fish is minding his own business when a playful (and hungry) octopus snatches him right up. Luckily, this poor little guy is not quite as innocent as he seems…and he has a BIG surprise up his sleeve!
Told with wit, a wink, and a delightfully dark sense of humor, Poor Little Guy celebrates the very smallest…and all of their giant victories. Hand this cute but mighty book to fans of Bob Shea and Dan Krall. (less)
Curious as to how the author, Elanna came up with the idea behind Poor Little Guy? We had the opportunity to find out:
How did you come up with the idea for Poor Little Guy? Which came first, the art or the story? Were you inspired by something specific?
I came up with the idea for POOR LITTLE GUY while marooned in the African Island of Mauritius in a typhoon. Sounds like I’m making that up, but it’s actually true. I was stuck in a tiny dark hotel room with 100 mile winds outside and I felt very small and vulnerable. This set the mood perfectly for a good think about vulnerable creatures, and then I tried to figure out how said creature could be victorious. A delicious looking blowfish seemed perfect. Once I drew a storyboard, it seemed natural for him to empathize with the poor be-spiked predator at the end. And hence, the title of the book was born.
About Elanna:
Elanna Allen is also the illustrator of Eva and Sadie and the Worst Haircut EVER!, chosen as the K-2 Children’s Choice Book of the Year in 2015. Elanna graduated from Brown University and studied animation and illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. She has designed characters and directed animation for Disney Junior, Nick Jr, and PBS. She lives in New York City with her husband and two boys, and is currently learning to play the ukulele.
This simple text told through dialogue is perfect for the youngest picture book fans. For fans of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Finding Nemo, POOR LITTLE GUY adds a cheeky twist with graphic appeal.
You can get your copy of Poor Little Guy at your local book retailer or online at stores like Amazon.
