Watch Out!

by Jan Fearnley

A little one’s unbridled enthusiasm is a mother’s special challenge in this tender, amusing story that offers a sweet final twist.

Wilf is a little mouse who is bursting with energy and full of fun. He loves to run and skip and climb and jump around. He’s so busy, in fact, that he just doesn’t have time to listen to his mother’s pleas to "Watch out, Wilf!" until it’s too late and — crash bang wallop! Uh-oh. What has Wilf done now? With affection and humor, Jan Fearnley paints an endearing portrait of an effusive, disaster-prone child and an ever-patient mom.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 2, 2004

Reviews

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think ids who like No, David! will like this book. Cute, gentle book about listening.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on a clearance shelf years ago and it is a favorite. A fun picture book to read with or to kids. Watch Out has a great message for all of us to stop and listen before we leap.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a good book to discuss being present and not rushing around.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars?

[Faith Livensparger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade: 1-2
Genre: Modern Fantasy
"Watch Out, Wilf" is an outstanding story about the importance of using your listening ears. Wilf is a little mouse that loves adventure and mischief. Sometimes the adventure and mischief makes it hard for Wilf to listen. I love this book because it is a great example as to how children AND adults need to use their listening ears even when there is a lot of excitement.

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think we read this a couple years ago and it's probably meant for kids younger than Logan (who is almost 7), but he loved it anyway! Wilf is an exuberant little mouse and his mother keeps telling him to watch out and be careful, but Wilf can't hear her because he's so busy. A disaster ensues on each double-page spread. The watercolors are funny and full of action. We had many laughs. The ending is very sweet, when the tables are turned and Wilf tells his mom she should be careful, but she doesn't hear.

[Aileen Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book written and illustrated by Jan Fearnley and is called Watch Out! Although this book was published back in 2004, it is well worth tracking down a copy to read about little Wilf. Wilf is a small brown mouse who hurriedly scurries about and always manages to get into a mess. Wilf is not a bad mouse. He is just so busy being busy that he ends up in some predicaments. I can relate to this and what happens to his mom when she does the same thing. There has been many a time that I have spilled something or tripped because I was in too big of a hurry.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Wilf has a hard time listening to his mother. He gets hurt and gets messy! But at the end of the story, the tables turn and Wilf's mom doesn't do a good job of listening either. This book taught me that sometimes listening to my kids helps me avoid some mistakes!

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this aloud to my kids, I couldn't help but laugh at how much the mama mouse sounds like me saying, "Why don't you listen to me?" with increasing frustration. And yet we love our little ones just the same (even while cleaning up their messes).

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son is just like the little mouse, Wilf. Appropriate that this is also his favorite book.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has Dimitri saying "crash, bang, wallop" all the time. We loved it.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both my boys (ages 5 & 9) liked this book, especially the twist at the end.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet mommy and her busy toddler book

[Rosemary Szczygiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Level 2.4 Theme and lesson: listening and caring.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Naomi and Julia.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

animals (mice), moms and babies, listening skills, staying out of trouble

[Deja Bertucci]

It bugged me that the point of the story is the mama mouse should listen to the baby mouse when he tells her what to do, too. Would have been a great story about obedience and listening to Mama if not for that.