When puffin Steve meets puffin Steve, neither can believe it. Surely one of them must be the first Steve, the best Steve, the Stevest of Steves...But is a name really worth fighting over?
"I'm an award-winning children's book author and illustrator from Edinburgh. I love making up stories, print-making and cutting and sticking. My favourite things to draw are eyebrows.
I have an MA in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and a BA in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art. I used to work in theatre, but now spend my days in my Edinburgh studio with views of the hills.
One day I will manage to write a book about my very favourite animal - the duck.
I am represented by Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton."
The Steves is a quick little read that will be sure to amuse those in the potty humour crowd. Steve and Steve are two puffins who are not impressed when they each discover they are not the only Steve.
Things escalate from trying to outdo each other into name calling as each Steve tries to win the title of Top Steve.
The two Steves eventually apologize to each other and decide to become friends, but there is a real lack of any explanation about how that happened. This would definitely be a book that needs to be read together with a discussion about kindness and competition.
That said, it's sure to be a hit with the poo-is-funny crowd. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky for providing me with a DRC of this book.
5 happy puffin yellow stars! I enjoyed a previous children's book by Hood quite a lot (I Am Bat)and the publisher offered this book for review via Netgalley. I loved it! Great and colorful illustrations that young children will find bright and fun of adorable little Puffins. The yellow is very eye catching! It will open up the opportunity for a much needed discussion about comparison and if anyone is better than another or are we all equal. I really liked this theme and would definitely like to own a classroom copy. While it will take some leading in the discussion, I think children will quickly grasp the concept of no one is any better than another. Coexist!
It's cute and appropriate. It's a great resource for young readers and their parents or teachers. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Morag Hood, and NetGalley for a digital copy to review. I look forward to sharing it's message with young readers. Highly recommended! Comes out Sept. 1, 2018. I'll be picking it up. :-) Puffins are so cool!
This was a silly children's story about two puffins both named Steve. When they meet there is of course a competition between the two of them for who is the better Steve at this and that.
I think young kids will laugh and have fun reading this book as well as enjoy the bright colors and illustrations.
The two Steves start out with silly reasons why they're the number one Steve and of course turns to being frustrated and angry with the others' reasons to where they hurt each other's feelings. Steve then apologizes to Steve and they start to work together until...another Steve appears.
I found this book to be pretty accurate with a personal situation. My youngest daughter has a little bit more unique first name and surprise, the first day of kindergarten we discover that there is another little girl with her same name, different spelling, in the other kindergarten class. This other little girl wasn't very thrilled at all that someone else would have her same name. So some competition ensued and hurtful words. I was constantly in helping in the classroom and out at recess watching their very short interactions. My little girl would try to go play but the other little girl wasn't very kind. After many times of talking with my daughter and reminding her to be kind and try not to get too upset about it, and trying to find ways to help the situation, we ran into this other little girl around town with her grandmother. The other little girl pointed at my daughter and told her grandmother that they had the same name. I smiled and said 'isn't that so cool that someone else has the same name as you? That's pretty neat. There's not too many people that will have your same name. You guys are pretty lucky." She stopped and thought about it and then ever since that conversation, they have played and gotten along great. It just took a little different perspective...and guess what, they're in the same class this year and happy as can be about it.
Content: The two Steves make fun of each other at the end of their competition. One Steve tells the other he smells like "poo". I know that is something kids think is funny but not something I quite appreciate in a children's story book. I probably would have rated it higher if that wasn't in there.
I received a copy from the publisher, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Steve the puffin believes he's the best Steve. That is until the other puffin named Steve comes into the picture. They immediately become competitive and defensive about who is the best Steve. One Steve is older so he obviously is better. The other Steve still thinks highly of himself and puts down the older Steve. I love the illustrations the most because it's playful and makes the story work, What children find out is that two heads are better than one and working together gets stuff done. It does end rather abruptly and then there could be a couple extra pages to see them working well together but I liked it overall. Kids will enjoy this one.
How I managed to pick up a kid-lit picture book at Book Expo containing the sassiest of puffins ever is beyond me. This book reminds me of that "Husband Penguin v.s. Homewrecker Penguin" video. Anyways, ending's a cliffhanger wtf.
(Also ignore my rating because I don't got much to say about picture books so.)
A short, cute story about two puffins named Steve. They begin and argument/competition about who is the first and best Steve. It shows how silly it is to argue about this. There was not a lot to it so it will appeal to younger children, but they won't really understand the message. The illustrations are bright, large and eye catching and would certainly be enjoyed by children. Not sure what age this book is actually aimed at. The publisher generously provided me with this book via Netgalley.
Two puffins come together and realise they are both called Steve! Arguments and name calling ensues, who came first? Who is more Steve than the other? An amusing and bright picture book that highlights the importance of sharing and acceptance, even if it's your name!
"My Name is Bear" by Nicola Killen is the same story, but more fleshed out. This one has puffins and "you smell of poo!" as an insult. Either way, it should be instructive to prospective parents to think again when considering "this year's trendy baby name". Dr. Seuss points out much the same issue in "Too Many Daves".
Boy, do I love this little book! It has the cutest illustrations and a fun story about two Puffins named Steve who try to outdo the other by singing their own praises. Their competitiveness heats up until one accuses the other of having weird feet and smelling like poo. Shows that forgiveness and civility are virtues children are wise to learn — and that adults can benefit from too. 5/5
Thanks to the author, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
Read for story time. I think my older kids (kindergarten and first grade) liked this book best. Preschoolers were a tiny bit confused, but thought the idea of 2 birds named Steve was great. Kids loved the bright, yet simple illustrations. I think this book would have been even better if myself and another librarian had been able to each read as Steve 1 and Steve 2.
There is truth in this, when your child discovers that you named him Jayden and her Neveah, but that there are 50 skadillion other parents who thought they were being really cool and original weren't. And the pictures are amusing. They get the star.
But what goes on here is a battle of meanness, complete with potty humor, and the reconciliation at the end really doesn't happen for a logical reason. I am not sure who this is intended for, besides the author.
When you think of ‘Steve’, this is exactly it! A clever book that makes you laugh but is also super cute and wholesim. Also 10/10 screen printed illustration style.
I am sure that every new school year brings this fight back to the forefront. Which Steve is THE Steve? Which is stronger, faster, smarter, etc? You see this story played out on the pages as it would in real life. And as such, you get a chuckle, but don’t get to deal with the upset children. So high fives all around and everyone can be Steve.
Competition can be healthy (and fun). And, when it's two puffins competing, the entertainment level is off the charts. Especially when Morag Hood does the writing.
She's the creative genius who wrote about an unlikely friendship between vegetables - Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea.
There's a playfulness to her writing and the illustrations are adorable. She knows just how to appeal to kids (and adults alike).
In her new book, The Steves, she once again brings the same level of humour and engagement. Two puffins, both called Steve, compete to be "Number One".
When Steve first meets Steve, he's flabbergasted. How can there be two Steves? One must surely be the first Steve, they reckon, or perhaps the best Steve. Or perhaps the fastest, or the strongest. Or, the wiser, or the taller.
What ensues is a competition. Which Steve can catch the most fish? Which one is the strongest?
Not long after the competition takes a dark turn. They start insulting one another. Steve says Steve's got "weird feet" while in return Steve tells Steve that he "smells of poo".
They feel sad. Then apologize to one another. And become fast friends.
You'd think that "all's well that ends well", but in classic Morag Hood fashion, there's a twist at the end. A third Steve appears.
This picture book is delightful replete with bright, colourful illustrations. Puffin characters that just want to make you cuddle them. And expressions that will have you laughing at the sides. And to round out the simple, bold illustrations, there's copy that creates a big splash in kids' hearts.
Steve the Puffin has met his match... another Puffin named Steve. Really? Two Steves? Oh my. Let the competition begin. Each try to out-Steve the other by touting their abilities. A huge argument ensues with shouting and name-calling. I'm the oldest, the wiser, the taller, I can catch more fish than you. I'm the fastest, the strongest... therefore "I AM STEVE".
Attitudes and their words take a deep dive. The Puffins get more personal and insulting. One Steve accuses the other of having WEIRD FEET and the other Steve fires back that his adversary smells like poo so he is POO STEVE. Oh goodness, this is getting way out of hand and both their feelings get hurt because those mean words cross the line.
Realizing how hurtful their words have become they decide to call a truce, apologize to each other, and become friends. What could they do together that would heal their tattered state of minds and hearts? Ahhhh... bowling is just the thing! The author adds a wonderful twist at the end of the story that will make kids (and adults) giggle.
This scenario is very typical of kids at this age level as they vie for superiority amongst their friends. The book lends a wonderful positive message that although you may argue and disagree with one another it is always possible to make amends, gain peace in a relationship and ultimately make a new friend. This book is a perfect catalyst for a discussion on civility, acceptance and friendship. I highly recommend this book. I love it.
When two Steves meet, each needs to establish his superiority. They argue about everything, including which one appeared first—“BY ONE PAGE”, the other protests. One is slightly older, so he believes he should be 'Steve the First'. One is wiser, one is taller, and there are claims of faster and stronger. They even challenge each other about their ability to catch fish, which would be odd if they were human, but these Steves are puffins. Then the tone of their competition changes, and the insults begin, making them feel bad. But they are essentially kind-hearted, and they apologise and decide to be friends. The puffins are akin to 6-year-olds; there is no real malice, but they vie for king of the playground.
Hood employs simple, childlike syntax, including just enough grossness to ensure giggles from young readers. It’s a great read-aloud for two voices, as they each escalate in intensity and then come together in agreement. Sharply delineated lino-print–and-collage illustrations in dominant, intensely bright blue and yellow are filled with delightful images. The black-and-white puffins, one with an orange beak and one with red, display slight changes in the ways they hold their heads and mouths that indicate their emotions and perfectly match the dialogue. There’s a gentle, subliminal message about friendship and acceptance.
The first Steve to speak in the book assures the other Steve that he can be Steve the Second.
No deal.
If they determine who is the oldest that should solve the problem.
Nope. Not that easy.
Maybe whichever one is the wisest, tallest, or can catch the most fish should be called Steve.
Nope.
Maybe name calling will work.
"You’ve got weird feet.
WEIRD FEET STEVE!
Well, you smell.
SMELLS LIKE POO STEVE."
One Steve smells himself and says he doesn’t smell like poo. The other examines his feet and declares them to be just fine. Both look at each other and apologize and decide to go bowling. But as they get ready to bowl something rather unusual happens.
My Thoughts
What Concerned me: I’m not a fan of adding words like poo just to get a giggle, it doesn’t really draw me to a book.
What I Liked Most: The bright yellow pages and the fact that the two toucans were able to work out their concerns and move on should draw both parents and kids.
I'll admit it, I may have become an accidental fangirl of Morag Hood.
Mentioned to me by one of my other favourite PanMac authors, I was pretty excited when this glorious YELLOW (and it fully deserves the capitals) caught my eye in the shop. Possibly read it right there and then, giggled like a child, remembered that I was there to do my job, and then took a copy home with me later to promptly read out-loud to my housemate/cat.
These stories are just *good*. They are so delightful and humorous and innocent and silly and just so-darned-colourful. In all my adult glory, they remind me of how easy it was to be a small child. These short picture books *literally* return to me the joy of being a child - how magical is that?!
You should read this. Read it to your child. Read it to your cat. Just read it for you. Enjoy.
Morag Hood has written and illustrated this beautiful, very bright and colourful story of two puffins called Steve who each think they are more important than the other.
I found the drawings amusing as is the storyline and feel sure that any young child being given this book will spend hours enthralled with the drawings and very simple story. The perfect book for a child to start learning to identify words and colours.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
It is funny story, but at the same time a little mean like for my taste. I know kids try to out do themselves, and do things that are pointed in the book, but do we need more of negativity in our kids lives? The story is about two Steves that try to show the other one who is better. It uses some potty language, which I am never fun of.
Illustrations are very simple. Mostly one color pages with two puffins arguing on each.
As an adult I find it funny, but I wouldn't like to read it to my kids too often.
Is this book big enough to hold two Steves? Only by getting to the end will you find out! Hood presents a bold-coloured humorous verbal scuffle between two puffins with the same name. Each of them vie to show the other that they alone are the 'Stevest Steve' whether that's through height, reading prowess or age. But when a comment gets a little nasty both Puffins recognise their error, apologise and head off to bowl! A perfect, perfect read aloud (even better if you can get children doing the voices), this book is sure to bring readers back again and again.
3.5 stars. I really like Morag Hood's illustrations and loved her previous book. The Steves features two puffins with the same name who are trying to prove that they are the best 'Steve'. I enjoyed the colourful pictures and the personality shown by each character as well as the subtle differences between them. I was less amused by some of the insults that the two puffins started throwing at each other. I thought that the ending was brilliant, if a little rushed.
I received a digital review copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A humorous picture book about competition and jealousy, but the lesson seems to happen without any explanation. I enjoyed the bright and bold illustrations, but the whole story seemed rushed.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A cute, simple book about two puffins named Steve, each competing to be "the stevest Steve". Children will enjoy reading as the puffins verbally bounce back and forth with sillier and sillier insults, though the ending does feel rushed and seems to come out of nowhere.
Hahahahaha! Read this to preschoolers. They will love meeting the Steves, watching them bicker, and enjoy the budding friendship that may happen... . Bright illustrations will capture and hold the attention of children as will the creative insults that fly among the Steves. Children will gasp in awe at the boldness of the Steves. Read. Enjoy. Share with children.