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Yorick and Bones #1
Yorick and Bones
Yorick is a skeleton who was just dug up after a few hundred years of sleep. He speaks like it too. “Forsooth, my joy, I barely can contain!”
Bones is the hungry dog who did the digging. Though he cannot speak, he can chomp.
What will become of these two unlikely companions? Will Yorick ever find the friend he seeks? Will Bones ever find a tasty treat that does not talk back?
The course of true friendship never did run smooth.
Bones is the hungry dog who did the digging. Though he cannot speak, he can chomp.
What will become of these two unlikely companions? Will Yorick ever find the friend he seeks? Will Bones ever find a tasty treat that does not talk back?
The course of true friendship never did run smooth.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2020
15 people are currently reading
3630 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Tankard
26 books78 followersI get ideas by watching and listening all the time. I also keep a sketchbook and am constantly doodling and creating characters," Jeremy Tankard says. Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, Columbia, South Carolina, Hazard, Kentucky, and finally Knoxville, Tennessee Jeremy Tankard, the son of a story telling father and a mother who oversaw libraries, was always surrounded by stories and inspiration for them.
"When I was young my dad used to tell my brother and me stories in order to keep us from complaining during long walks in the mountains. Some of the stories were true, others were not; and as for the rest of them, we still don't know whether to believe them or not." Jeremy Tankard started writing and illustrating when he was still a child, despite his limited spelling capabilities. The early ones featured a pig family who had a series of misadventures. The only words in the books were ‘Hallo’, ‘HALP!’, and ‘Bye bye’.
After studying drawing and printmaking at the Alberta College of Art and Design, Jeremy Tankard embarked on a career as an illustrator, his work appearing in magazines and ad campaigns including Time, The New York Times, Guitar Player, and The Boston Globe. Armed with his skills as an illustrator and his new and improved vocabulary, Jeremy Tankard returned to his real love: telling stories.
Jeremy Tankard is the author of GRUMPY BIRD for which he was nominated for the for outstanding children’s book illustration. His most recent book, ME HUNGRY! is about a Stone Age boy in search of a snack. Jeremy Tankard lives in Toronto with his wife, Heather, and young daughter, Hermione, where he dabbles in music, loves Indian cooking and skateboards.
"When I was young my dad used to tell my brother and me stories in order to keep us from complaining during long walks in the mountains. Some of the stories were true, others were not; and as for the rest of them, we still don't know whether to believe them or not." Jeremy Tankard started writing and illustrating when he was still a child, despite his limited spelling capabilities. The early ones featured a pig family who had a series of misadventures. The only words in the books were ‘Hallo’, ‘HALP!’, and ‘Bye bye’.
After studying drawing and printmaking at the Alberta College of Art and Design, Jeremy Tankard embarked on a career as an illustrator, his work appearing in magazines and ad campaigns including Time, The New York Times, Guitar Player, and The Boston Globe. Armed with his skills as an illustrator and his new and improved vocabulary, Jeremy Tankard returned to his real love: telling stories.
Jeremy Tankard is the author of GRUMPY BIRD for which he was nominated for the for outstanding children’s book illustration. His most recent book, ME HUNGRY! is about a Stone Age boy in search of a snack. Jeremy Tankard lives in Toronto with his wife, Heather, and young daughter, Hermione, where he dabbles in music, loves Indian cooking and skateboards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
February 24, 2020
I won this via goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own.
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Cute story. I didn't fully connect to it but I had fun with it.
Story: 2.5 stars
Illustrations: 3 stars
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Cute story. I didn't fully connect to it but I had fun with it.
Story: 2.5 stars
Illustrations: 3 stars
September 25, 2020
Yorick, the lamented skull in Shakespeare's Hamlet, is dug from the ground in the present day by a passing dog and walks around scaring people with his iambic pentameter and skeletal form. Did we need a kid's book scripted entirely in iambic pentameter? Wasn't it bad enough when we had to read Stan Lee's original Thor comic book where he doths, haths, and -eths everything?
Morality police: Yorick steals without consequence.
Quibble police: The author says he decided that Yorick and Hamlet were childhood friends because Shakespeare "doesn't make it clear whether Yorick is a grown-up or not." This despite Hamlet referring to Yorick as a "man," who "hath borne me on his back a thousand times" until his death 23 years previous to the graveyard scene, when a 30-year-old Hamlet would have been seven (or even younger if you care to dispute Hamlet's age). Yorick was the king's court jester, so it seems highly unlikely he was a child peer of Hamlet's.
Morality police: Yorick steals without consequence.
Quibble police: The author says he decided that Yorick and Hamlet were childhood friends because Shakespeare "doesn't make it clear whether Yorick is a grown-up or not." This despite Hamlet referring to Yorick as a "man," who "hath borne me on his back a thousand times" until his death 23 years previous to the graveyard scene, when a 30-year-old Hamlet would have been seven (or even younger if you care to dispute Hamlet's age). Yorick was the king's court jester, so it seems highly unlikely he was a child peer of Hamlet's.
October 9, 2020
I laughed out loud several times. This was an absolute delight!
February 2, 2025
I love this graphic novel so much! I can just feel the awkwardness, the loneliness and the reality of the main skeleton character.
A skeleton has been woken from its grave and has come to a world ages after it’s been buried. It tries to befriend the people as it meets but is soon being abandoned as the skeleton is considered a monster as how we would all react when we know that a skeleton is talking!
But, like most of us, the skeleton has failed to realise the little companion who has been with it its entire journey good or bad is its friend. It has become lonely and starts blaming itself for its bad destiny. However, the little companion, the dog, convinces that it would not leave a friend, be there through thick and thin, give it company until the end.
The only criticism I have regarding this graphic novel is the older English in the writing that I feel it would be inconvenient for the younger readers.
Otherwise I love the illustrations, the plot, the characters and the quality of the graphic novel.
A skeleton has been woken from its grave and has come to a world ages after it’s been buried. It tries to befriend the people as it meets but is soon being abandoned as the skeleton is considered a monster as how we would all react when we know that a skeleton is talking!
But, like most of us, the skeleton has failed to realise the little companion who has been with it its entire journey good or bad is its friend. It has become lonely and starts blaming itself for its bad destiny. However, the little companion, the dog, convinces that it would not leave a friend, be there through thick and thin, give it company until the end.
The only criticism I have regarding this graphic novel is the older English in the writing that I feel it would be inconvenient for the younger readers.
Otherwise I love the illustrations, the plot, the characters and the quality of the graphic novel.
April 9, 2021
Fun father-daughter collab inspired by Shakespeare! Though the art reads more juvenile, I would recommend this as a read-with for the younger kids and a read-alone for middle-grade students.
July 28, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this adventure of Yorick and Bones. I found some great similarities to the ways we approach and deal with people in our daily lives. The use of the Queen's English was easy to understand (which in all honesty isn't always so) and really added to Yorick's character.
The art work was cute and i can easily see how it would hold a youngster's attention (since it easily held mine). The color I found really contributed to making the art work pop right off the page, making following the story much more fun.
All in all a fun read that lasted a couple of hours and when I go to visit my grandchildren this is the next book I will be reading to them.
Thank you to Jeremy and Hermione Tankard, Harper Collins Pub and Goodreads for the copy of the book I received in exchange for an honest review
The art work was cute and i can easily see how it would hold a youngster's attention (since it easily held mine). The color I found really contributed to making the art work pop right off the page, making following the story much more fun.
All in all a fun read that lasted a couple of hours and when I go to visit my grandchildren this is the next book I will be reading to them.
Thank you to Jeremy and Hermione Tankard, Harper Collins Pub and Goodreads for the copy of the book I received in exchange for an honest review
January 25, 2025
Yorick and Bones
Overall Ratings: ⭐ ⭐ .5 (2.5/5) or 5.42/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 5
Writing - 5
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Ratings: ⭐ ⭐ .5 (2.5/5) or 5.42/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 5
Writing - 5
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 6
November 13, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
As one may discern from the title, this book is about The Yorick, Shakespeare's own Hamlet's friend, a "fellow of infinite jest" ! How grand is that to introduce my group to the owner of the skull raised high in the graveyard !
In a graphic format, which all my kiddos like, was one that amused them and kept them wondering -how does a skeleton with a pet dog deal with the natural issues that might arise between them? and how does a skeleton eat a hot dog? Why did that vendor not blink an eye at such a customer? Questions that are worth answering, for sure! We voted 4 stars for this one, and an encouragement to continue with the next book.
As one may discern from the title, this book is about The Yorick, Shakespeare's own Hamlet's friend, a "fellow of infinite jest" ! How grand is that to introduce my group to the owner of the skull raised high in the graveyard !
In a graphic format, which all my kiddos like, was one that amused them and kept them wondering -how does a skeleton with a pet dog deal with the natural issues that might arise between them? and how does a skeleton eat a hot dog? Why did that vendor not blink an eye at such a customer? Questions that are worth answering, for sure! We voted 4 stars for this one, and an encouragement to continue with the next book.
May 9, 2020
RUN not walk to this incredibly funny story of a skeleton (who does not know he is a skeleton) and the dog who has dug him up. Told as a lost graphic of William Shakespeare, this is sure to entertain older elementary and middle school readers.
March 27, 2020
I received this book from an awesome bookish friend.
I really enjoy comics and I enjoyed this book and the story.
I really enjoy comics and I enjoyed this book and the story.
September 27, 2020
Please don't market this to kids! It will go right over their heads. Teenage Shakespeare nerds, however, would find it totally charming and sweet. Man's best friend with iambic pentameter.
October 17, 2020
This rating/review is based on an ARC from Harper Alley I picked up at work.
I really liked this!! It's funny and silly and I love the very gestural, loose style of the art. It's super cute that Jeremy Tankard created this with his daughter.
I'm not quite sure, though, who would like this. Since it's in kind of written in a Shakespearean vernacular, it might be a really difficult read for a kid. The art and length would appeal to a younger graphic novel reader (2nd-4th grade) but the language is definitely for an older reader. I still like it and I'll pitch it at the library (whenever I get the chance ughhh). I think this would be a good pitch to a caregiver and child who plan on reading it together. It's definitely very goofy and that would be fun to play up when reading aloud!
I really liked this!! It's funny and silly and I love the very gestural, loose style of the art. It's super cute that Jeremy Tankard created this with his daughter.
I'm not quite sure, though, who would like this. Since it's in kind of written in a Shakespearean vernacular, it might be a really difficult read for a kid. The art and length would appeal to a younger graphic novel reader (2nd-4th grade) but the language is definitely for an older reader. I still like it and I'll pitch it at the library (whenever I get the chance ughhh). I think this would be a good pitch to a caregiver and child who plan on reading it together. It's definitely very goofy and that would be fun to play up when reading aloud!
January 28, 2024
In a world where the echoes of forgotten tales mingle with the curious whispers of the present, an extraordinary encounter takes place. Yorick, a centuries-old skeleton, awakens from his slumber, longing for companionship and adventure. From the deep bowels of the earth, Bones, a hungry and mischievous dog, unearths Yorick's resting place. Although simplistic in nature, Bones possesses a hunger that cannot be satisfied by any ordinary treat. Together, these two unlikely companions embark on an unforgettable journey filled with friendship and discovery.
We follow Yorick, unaware of the changes in society and language since his time, speaks in an archaic and endearing manner, which adds a unique charm to his character. On the other hand, Bones, though lacking the ability to articulate through language, possesses a voracious appetite. His energetic and unpredictable nature brings a restless energy to the partnership. With a propensity for digging, he accidentally unearths Yorick, thereby commencing their unusual alliance.
As Yorick and Bones traverse the world together, they encounter numerous challenges. Yorick's desire for companionship is tested by his unconventional appearances and the quirks of a skeleton's existence. While some are fascinated by his resurrection, others recoil in fear or disbelief.
Though the duo's contrasting natures, we are invited to embark on an adventurous quest of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery.
We follow Yorick, unaware of the changes in society and language since his time, speaks in an archaic and endearing manner, which adds a unique charm to his character. On the other hand, Bones, though lacking the ability to articulate through language, possesses a voracious appetite. His energetic and unpredictable nature brings a restless energy to the partnership. With a propensity for digging, he accidentally unearths Yorick, thereby commencing their unusual alliance.
As Yorick and Bones traverse the world together, they encounter numerous challenges. Yorick's desire for companionship is tested by his unconventional appearances and the quirks of a skeleton's existence. While some are fascinated by his resurrection, others recoil in fear or disbelief.
Though the duo's contrasting natures, we are invited to embark on an adventurous quest of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery.
December 6, 2023
For some reason I’ve spent a majority of my life not reading graphic novels. But, this year I have found that I do indeed enjoy them.
I am exceptionally picky when it comes to these but I LOVED this one! And thankfully I ordered the second one when I got this one. I mean… a skeleton and a dog!? YES PLEASE!
This story was so cute and actually made me giggle quite a bit. Graphic Novels are great for when you finish an amazing book and don’t where to go next, when you dnf a book or are in a slump.
I am exceptionally picky when it comes to these but I LOVED this one! And thankfully I ordered the second one when I got this one. I mean… a skeleton and a dog!? YES PLEASE!
This story was so cute and actually made me giggle quite a bit. Graphic Novels are great for when you finish an amazing book and don’t where to go next, when you dnf a book or are in a slump.
July 16, 2020
I didn't really enjoy this but I give it 2 stars for the artwork and the attempt. I just didn't find it humorous or touching. It had the potential to be both, but the language kind of killed it for me.
January 5, 2021
Entertaining and kind of adorable, but not sure the kids will connect with the Shakespearean phrasing or background of the story. Even if they don’t really “get” that, I do think they’ll still be entertained by this graphic novel.
March 22, 2021
Absolutely adorable story about a dug up skeleton and his canine companion. I do wonder if the Shakespearean language might throw off some readers, although I'm sure in many cases the context will make it clear what's happening.
August 6, 2020
The art is very, very cute and it's an interesting premise, but I'm not sure how well the intended age group would respond to the Shakespearean dialect. On one hand, it could serve to be a great introduction for a middle grade reader to Shakespeare's verse, but on the other, the language is off-putting enough to me, an adult who majored in English Literature and has read umpteen Shakespeare plays. Still, B+ for effort.
October 7, 2020
Cute little graphic novel about frienship
April 7, 2021
This is a good book for what it is, but it wasn't what I was hoping for when I picked it up.
Read
June 22, 2021It’s a children’s comic in which a Shakespearean skeleton learns he’s worthy of friendship. What’s not to love??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2021
This was funny cute, but the old-timey speech got old real fast.
March 3, 2022
Yorick👀 and bones is a very funny😅 book and you should read this series.🤓 I've loved both books.❤📘📙 Amazing book!💎💎💎💎
June 20, 2022
Alas, poor Yorick, I knew this would be so cute that I had no choice but to read this and I WAS RIGHT
December 17, 2022
Very cute. Very funny. Recommend to anyone who likes Shakespeare. 🫶🏼
February 21, 2024
Shakespeare for kids, in the cutest way possible.
I thought that the language would be tough for a younger audience, but maybe with the combined images and storytelling it would make sense enough.
I thought that the language would be tough for a younger audience, but maybe with the combined images and storytelling it would make sense enough.
April 11, 2024
Buddy read with Jenna, this was so delightful and honestly I think Shakespeare would say this slaps
June 20, 2024
Simple and sweet--a story about a skeleton who comes back to life in a more modern setting and is dug up by a sweet dog who decides to be his friend. I was confused a bit about the role magic plays in this society, because the witch at the beginning seems to contradict everything else. But don't take it too seriously, and you'll be fine! This book is adorable! I already gave it to my son and would recommend it to anyone who might love a cozy graphic novel with a slightly dark edge geared toward middle grade readers. Also possibly casual Shakespeare fans, or just fans of comics about dogs.
January 5, 2025
Super cute and funny story. Love the illustrations!
For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtube.com/shorts/J8E3gbpVm2...
Enjoy!
For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtube.com/shorts/J8E3gbpVm2...
Enjoy!
May 9, 2025
Love that this was written in iambic pentameter! Good way to introduce kids to Shakespeare before Shakespeare. Plus there’s a cute dog.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews