The Wicked Big Toddlah

Wicked Big Toddlah #1

by Kevin Hawkes

Absolutely nothing exciting happens in Maine . . . nothing, that is, except for the birth of one giant baby. "That's one wicked big toddlah you got there!" exclaims Uncle Bert . . . and so Toddie is named.Toddie's a baby just like any other . . . sort of. The thing is, he's big— really big. That means really big diapers, really big teeth, really big everything . From new booties that wear out the knitter to a bath in the ocean (it's fun to play with boats!), Toddie goes through all the stages of baby's first year . . . it's just a little different for Toddie.Kids will laugh out loud as they see Toddie get into more and more trouble. . . it's time for giant laughs all around!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Storytime

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Kevin Hawkes is the illustrator of over 35 acclaimed picture books and chapter books including Library Lion, The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, Weslandia, and Sidewalk Circus. His vibrant colors, unusual perspectives, and dry sense of humor are hallmarks of his work. He lives with his charming wife and children in Southern Maine where he is often found wandering aimlessly in his garden. When forced indoors, he works quite happily painting cobalt blue skies, imaginary landscapes, and flying pianos.

from KevinHawkes.com

Reviews

[Ellen]

The Wicked Big Toddlah by Kevin Hawkes is a gorgeously illustrated laugh-out-loud vision of a giant toddler called, unsurprisingly, Toddie. The text is simple but vividly evokes the images fulfilled by the illustrations. Imagine the cradle. Imagine the diapers! Imagine what the first solids might be. This book is as satisfying for an adult as for a small child who gets to feel massively clever and superior to giant Toddie (and Toddie's grown-ups).

[Dianna]

I thought this book was on the better side of okay the first time I read it, but I liked it a lot more on the second reading when I noticed all the funny details in the illustrations.

I don't know much about Maine culture, but I enjoyed that I could see the author's love for it shine through in this book. I also adored that the whole extended family and/or neighborhood was helping take care of the baby.

I'm glad I like this book because I'm pretty sure my two-year-old is going to demand I read it every day until it goes back to the library.

[Betsy]

Hilarious! One of the best read alouds for elementary kids that I've seen in a long time. I'm sure my Bah-stahn accent is terrible, but it's fun to do, nonetheless. The sequel is just as funny, and my kids (from South Carolina) come into the library asking for them with a northeastern accent, which just cracks me up!

[Laura Mcclanahan]

Genre- Children's Picture Book

This text reminds the reader of Clifford, the Big Red Dog, only with a toddler. The story follows the birth and first year of a giant baby, and all of the accommodations made to fit the size of this baby, such as giant diapers and a haz-mat crew for changing them. The text is simplistic and cute, but doesn't really follow a plot line- it instead shows snapshots of a baby growing into a toddler.

In the beginning, Hawkes incorporates the midwestern accent of a family member when he says, "That's one wicked big toddlah," but unfortunately the accent doesn't really pop up again throughout the book. This is mostly because only the narrator shares information and all characters are silent actors. While some readers may be content with the fun text that shows off cranes and ladders to assist in feeding time, I myself was disappointed more of the characters weren't revealed through dialogue.

[Stephanie Fujii]

My husband and I bought this for our daughter during a trip to Maine for my cousin's wedding. We buy books for her as a gift during our travels. It is so entertaining, sweet and captures the culture and lifestyle well. My daughter chooses this book to read at bedtime 9/10 times these days. She loves it. I think she's working on saying the "HIHOWAWYAH" line right now.
Sweet and whimsical story, with beautiful art. We love it!

[The Library Lady]

Literally a "tall tale". This is a one joke book--just endless scenes of life with a Paul Bunyan like baby.
But the pictures ARE funny--especially the diaper change scene with the folks in hazmat suits!

[Jennifer Heise]

Adorable 'giant baby' tale with a Maine twist. Like all the Giant-Baby genre, it's important not to worry about practicality, but the humor of the situations as Toddie grows from infant to toddler and enjoys the passing seasons and his family will amuse adults and toddlers alike.

[Melki]

Don't ask me how Mama survived birthing this behemoth that makes Paul Bunyan look like a Keebler Elf, but he's a whole lotta trouble (and a whole lotta cute). I have no doubt that kids will be screaming over this one (in a good way). The author's illustrations REALLY make the book.


Fun with wildlife.


Uh-oh! Time for a diaper change.

Too cute!

[Mary]

A funny picture book about a giant baby born to a family in Maine. The family is initially surprised but they handle it well and it's all hands on deck taking care of baby Toddie. Although there isn't much of a plot, this story chronicles Toddie's babyhood and the effort it requires: the helicopter and hazmat suits required to change his diaper will definitely get a big laugh. This will be a fun read aloud, especially if read with a Maine accent. Also this could be used to introduce tall tales since baby Toddie is a bit like an updated baby Paul Bunyan.

[Erin]

I have no idea why I was so thoroughly entertained by this book . . . . It isn't one I would use for storytime (too long), but it is one I can picture myself reading again and again. This is most likely a result of the amazing illustrations and that subtle humor that makes me, literally, laugh out loud.

[Gillian French]

This is an adorable look at a baby’s first year, but it is an ESSENTIAL read for all Mainers! My four sons all love it, and so do I; the Maine-isms are spot on, right down to the mention of mud season and the phonetic spellings in true yankee accent.

[Melissa]

Hilarious story set in Maine about a giant toddler. Kids love this one.

[Kristen Dutkiewicz]

The story of a very big toddler!

[Ashlyn Fitzgerald]

Good book to keep young kids entertained and laughing throughout the book.

[Kaylynn Johnsen]

The art saves this story based on an accent.

[Kelly]

Fun story.

[Emily K.]

Cute, New England-y, but not enough playing with the dialect for my frozen Massachusetts heart, but what can you do.

[Randi]

As a displaced Bostonian, I adored reading this to my little one. So fun and SO New England!

[Marcie]

I can't believe this book came out that long ago and I had never read it. I think kids will love the humor.

[KaitandMaddie]

Maddie found this one very amusing.

[Katie]

Cute. Henry and I read it on a Story Walk. Ends a little abruptly, but the illustrations and accents are a joy.

[Darlene Ivy]

A modern-day tall tale about a toddler with roots in Paul Bunyon's size and all the mischief and mayhem a toddler can cause. Funny detailed illustrations.

[Allison]

"That's a wicked big toddlah ya got theya, Jessie!" And he sure is. Toddie is normal in every regard...except for his size. His big sister, who narrates the story, talks about him as if he's just like all all other toddlers. Toddie sleeps in a crib (a full-sized lobster boat), needs his diaper changed (by a helicopter and neighbors in hazmat suits), plays with (real, not stuffed) animals, and loves sugaring (or, in his case, squeezing all the sap out of the trees with his hands).

The humor in this book is mostly in the illustrations, and I'm not sure it would go over as well with people who aren't from Maine. However, it is a LOT of fun to reade with a Maine accent (the dialogue almost demands it), and it is a good illustration of many cultural pieces that are unique to northern rural states: blaze orange during hunting season, sugaring in the late winter, ongoing interaction with wildlife and farm animals, and so on. Also, it's fun for Mainers to hunt through the pages to find Maine details like Toddie's "toy" lobster boats and a direct reference to McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal. I noticed that several reviewers were confused by the sequel to this book (The Wicked Big Toddlah Goes to New York), but they admitted that they hadn't read the first one (curious, but ok). This leads me to believe that it is a better fit for residents or frequent visitors to Maine. I could see this book being used as an illustration of both writing dialect in fiction, as well as the connection between text and illustration, and how the second often deepens and illuminates the first.

[Beth]

For the title, alone...

[Cole Finnian]

Let's go have an adventure. On our boat, we're going to have six tangerines. (Typist's note: This may have been influenced by My Father's Dragon.)

Okay, we're going. Zoom Zoom. Swoosh. Primrooooose! Hackateer. Woo-hoo-woo-hoo-woo! Banggggggg. Do you know what that is? The toddler! Boom boom crash. Go go go. Back through the woods. Zoom zoom. Out of the book, into the computer. Hide inside the carpets! Climb up the bookstand! Into the class.

Chapter Two: The Monster.
Bang. Something when. The whole house shook.

Third Chapter: The big toddlah
Meeting the big toddler. We're going to meet him.
Bang, crash, smash. The house blew up.

Chapter Fifth. Fight the big toddlah
'Goo goo,' went something inside the room. And a big, humungous bottle crashed inside the room, and broke the whole table. But, his diaper fell off. Sooooo, go!

Rhyme, rhyme,
Rhyme next time.

The end. I had enough.

[Martha Freeman]

“The Wicked Big Toddlah,” now appearing in a sequel, “The Wicked Big Toddlah Goes to New York,” would make a great shower gift for expectant parents. It’s clear from the moment of his arrival by over-burdened stork that gigantic Toddie is no ordinary baby. In fact, he must be hauled home on the back of a flatbed “lumbah” truck.

Toddie requires a helicopter, a hazmat team, and a crane at diaper-changing time, and a fleet of lobstah boats to entertain him in the bath. His first taste of ice cream includes the ice cream truck, and he falls asleep clutching a real bear.

Set in Hawkes’ home state of Maine, where wicked is a superlative and the written “er” is pronounced “ah,” the story is also a universal cautionary tale: All new babies, even those of regular size, have an outsize impact on their families.

[Eyehavenofilter]

If you are not from Maine you will be quickly introduced to the phonetic pronunciation of certain words"Downeast" and that's part of this wicked big books charm! Toddie IS a wicked BIG Toddlah. Nearly 60 foot tall and must be cared for in the most ingenious ways. Jimmie knits him a hat and bootiesand ends up with her aged Hans bandaged. Uncle Bert makes him a cradle that could hold a football team, and changing his diaper taks the local crane, with men in hazmat suits!
Toddie taks baths in the bay, playing with local fishing boats, and bothers naught with removing Ice cream from the truck, he just eats the truck.
I can hardly wait to see what happens when he starts to run!

[Susan]

Give this book to every expectant parent you know! "Toddie" is just like every other baby...stinky diapers, teething, first steps, the whole thing...he's just BIGGER. This book is a gentle poke at all of us parents who think our baby chores are bigger than everyone else's; Hawkes does a wonderful job at reminding us that no matter how huge that dirty diaper seems, there's a REALLY cute baby at "end" of it ;)

[Dolly]

This is a very cute story about a gigantic baby. I love the Maine accents and the details about New England. Having grown up with a similar Massachusetts accent, I only lost it after years of living in other places around the world. But it's still easy for me to slip back into the local dialect. Our girls haven't been exposed to it very much, just during our short visits home. They don't quite get the charm of it all, but we all still enjoyed reading the story together.

[Lisa]

This book is a very unrealistic book because of how large the baby is in the book; however, students could see how authors use their imagination to make an entertaining and enjoyable book for readers. You could use this book when demonstrating creative writing and how its okay to make up things that are not even close to being realistic.