Review - Hello Hello

Hello Hello
by Brendan Wenzel
Date: 2018
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 52
Format: e-book
Source: library

A new picture book from Brendan Wenzel, the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning author of They All Saw a Cat!

Hello, Hello! Beginning with two cats, one black and one white, a chain of animals appears before the reader, linked together by at least one common trait. From simple colors and shapes to more complex and abstract associations, each unexpected encounter celebrates the magnificent diversity of our world—and ultimately paints a story of connection.

Brendan Wenzel's joyous, rhythmic text and exuberant art encourage readers to delight in nature's infinite differences and to look for—and marvel at—its gorgeous similarities. It all starts with a simple "Hello."

The book includes:
• An afterword from author Brendan Wenzel about the importance of conservation and protecting the wildlife on our planet.
• A glossary of the animals featured in the book and a notation on their status (Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered).

(synopsis from Goodreads)

At first glance, this book seems deceptively simple. Basic rhyming text is paired with detailed illustrations of all kinds of colourful creatures. It isn't until you get to the end and the author's note that you start to realize how much work actually went into this book. There are ninety-two animals depicted on the pages, some of them rather obscure, so the amount of research that had to be done is quite evident.

The basic premise here is introducing all these weird and wonderful animals to people so that they'll care about them. Some of these creatures are threatened, so knowledge about them is important. Wenzel's illustrations are somewhat stylized, but they seem to accurately depict the animals, birds, fish, etc. in a fun and colourful way.

I think I actually enjoyed this one more than They All Saw a Cat. It'll be a quick read at storytime, but there's plenty to look up afterward if you want to learn more about these interesting creatures.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5