Publishers Weekly
★ 04/25/2022
All Mr. Tortoise wants for his birthday is to celebrate “a good life with good friends... and good cake”—the latter being a scrumptious, three-tier confectionery covered in pink icing. But these plans are derailed when his animal friends discover that Mr. Tortoise doesn’t know his age. “Then how will we know how many candles to put on your cake?” one asks earnestly. While Mr. Tortoise patiently waits—tying on a polka-dotted napkin and suggesting that candle accuracy doesn’t matter—the animals cogitate. They count the sections of his shell, they extrapolate based on their own experience (a smaller tortoise figures that Mr. Tortoise must be twice as old because he’s twice as big), and they attempt to deduce a birth year from cultural references. Finally, a possible answer emerges; “HOORAY, CAKE!” says Mr. Tortoise. And hooray for Petty (Don’t Eat Bees) and Chan (Thank You, Neighbor!), whose comic hearts beat as one in this impeccably paced story told in graphic novel panels. With deadpan dialogue and endearingly goofy character-focused art, they’ve created a funny and loving salute to friendship, critical thinking, longevity, and cake. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (June)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Striking the right balance between joyful irreverence and absurd, quirky humor, this provides obvious opportunities both in storytime and classrooms, as the animal pals bring liveliness to a stealthy math lesson. Layout is used effectively, with initial panels that provide structure, then alternate with full spreads that emphasize the humor and whimsy of the story."
The Horn Book Magazine
"Mr. Tortoise’s emotions, which range from excited to thoughtful to confused to triumphant, dance across his face from panel to panel, and his friends are vibrant with enthusiasm. . .Anyone who’s ever had to wait for a treat will empathize."
From the Publisher
**STARRED REVIEW** "'HOORAY, CAKE!' says Mr. Tortoise. And hooray for Petty and Chan, whose comic hearts beat as one in this impeccably paced story told in graphic novel panels. With deadpan dialogue and endearingly goofy character-focused art, they’ve created a funny and loving salute to friendship, critical thinking, longevity, and cake." —Publishers Weekly
"Striking the right balance between joyful irreverence and absurd, quirky humor, this provides obvious opportunities both in storytime and classrooms, as the animal pals bring liveliness to a stealthy math lesson. Layout is used effectively, with initial panels that provide structure, then alternate with full spreads that emphasize the humor and whimsy of the story." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Mr. Tortoise’s emotions, which range from excited to thoughtful to confused to triumphant, dance across his face from panel to panel, and his friends are vibrant with enthusiasm. . .Anyone who’s ever had to wait for a treat will empathize." —The Horn Book Magazine
