Pajama Press

Parents and children alike will relate to this day in the life of an energetic child

Can you stretch like a cat or hang like a bat? This little one can do those things and so much more as she bounds energetically through her day. Author Jane Whittingham‘s sprightly couplets take her from the park to the pool, to dinner and bed, while Noel Tuazon cleverly illustrates the animal companions of a child’s imagination.

Published in a sturdy format with a padded cover, rounded corners, and extra-heavy paper, this picture book is perfect for sharing with wiggly, little wild ones of your own. And as the last pages are turned, the story’s final, sweet “goodnight” will leave the liveliest listeners ready to snuggle like a bear at bedtime.

Awards and Honours:
2017 HuffPost “Best Picture Books of 2017: Best Bedtime Book” Honourable Mention
2017 Toronto Public Library First & Best selection
2018 Resource Links “The Year’s Best” selection
2018 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens selection
2017 OLA Best Bets selection
2017 Jbrary “2017 Favourite Storytime Picture Books” selection
2017 Fab Book Reviews “Best of 2017: Picture Books & More” Honourable Mention

Reviews:
“Told in well-scanning, rhyming couplets, the child is compared to animals whose movements she imitates…Pen-and-ink illustrations with freely applied watercolors that don’t always stay within the lines are apropos and reflect the vitality of the youngster’s antics….The large font, sturdy pages, and few words per page make this a good selection for beginning readers.”—Booklist

“The rhyming text flows smoothly and has a jaunty rhythm that lends itself well to reading aloud. The playful watercolors start off saturated with bright colors that become muted as the child’s day comes to a sleepy end. A sweet read-aloud featuring a fearless and athletic girl to share with funny little monkeys.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A recommended general purchase, this read-aloud choice fosters inference and opportunity for shared reading in home or preschool.”—School Library Journal

“The illustrations elevate the simple rhythmic text by showing the child on each succeeding page as the very animal she is imitating with great charm. The watercolour and ink drawings are delightful, appealing and beautifully done.”—Resource Links

“This sweet picture book is sure to entertain tiny tots with its gentle rhyming couplets outlining one little girl’s perfect day at the playground and pool.”—Where Vancouver

“We rated this book: [5/5]…The book is fun to read to yourself, and the words are easy, and it’s probably a good book for a parent to read to a little child because of the rhymes and rhythmic repetition…Any beginning reader who likes animals and likes to play outside will enjoy this book.”—Kids’ BookBuzz

“Wild One is Jane Whittingham’s first picture book and it’s a charming recount of a child’s day filled with play and activity….[she] demonstrates, playfully, that we belong in the animal kingdom, sharing many attributes with animals far and wide….[Noel Tuazon’s] style here is appropriately light, subtle and simple, as complements the story of a preschooler’s life.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians

“What a sweet, sweet story!…Highly recommended for public and school libraries, as well as a gift for the younger children in your life. I will be using for a read aloud in my 4-year-old kindergarten classes once I can get a copy for my library and will be buying as a gift for many little girls in the future.”—Kate Olson, Kidlit Exchange Partner, Goodreads

“Rhyming stories are notoriously difficult to pull off well without seeming forced; most publishers won’t touch them. Here, they flow – and still manage to surprise….Whittingham’s smooth rhyme and consistent rhythm are beautifully matched with the illustrations. Tuazon catches the expressions of a child on adventure just so, and his animals make this reader smile with every page.”—The Book Wars

“[E]xuberant, fun and all-around winning picture book Wild One….Overall, a joyful, fun and charming picture book. Perfect for a preschool age and under crowd…Wild One is a picture book that begs for reading aloud and having fun with, due its ideal compact length, clarity, perfectly fun rhymes, and complementary (adorable) illustrations.”—Fab Book Reviews

“A short, fun read that will likely become a favourite for little ones.”—Canadian Bookworm

“[A] cute story…What I also like about this book, and Pajama Press does it often, is the actual feel and look of the [book]. It has nice weight to it, padded cover, rounded corners and extra-heavy paper.”—Booktime

“The delightful watercolour illustrations draw the reader (or young child) into the story, and the action is enhanced by the simple rhyming couplets. The story is a celebration of childhood and all the uninhibited movement and excitement that being a young child brings….In the weeks that we’ve had this new title, [my three children] have each asked for it to be read umpteen times – a sure sign of a fave book.”—Raising Mom