ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
PICTURE BOOKS
John, Jory

It's Not My Fault!

40 pp. | Random | June, 2020 | Trade ISBN 978-1-9848-3060-9 $17.99 | Library ISBN 978-1-9848-3061-6 $20.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-9848-3062-3
(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jared Chapman. An unnamed protagonist is pretty sure he has life figured out. Make a mistake, "just blame other stuff." Whether it's his pen, his shoes, his comb, or even the moon, whenever anything goes wrong, there is always something else at fault. But when these frustrated inanimate objects decide they've had enough, they speak up. One night a pen (blamed for messy homework, illegible test answers, and late assignments) lectures our protagonist about his habit of passing the buck. Although its speechifying is (winkingly) didactic, it just might be (partly) effective. Along with kids who enjoy seeing bad behavior, John's story is sure to appeal to those grownups who are fed up with ridiculous excuses. In Chapman's simple, bright, colorful illustrations, full-bleed spreads alternate with framed single pages and occasional dynamic panels showing a gap-toothed redheaded protagonist and grimacing, angry objects. The humor in both art and text makes this an appealing picture book that might even cause some self-reflection and growth in its readers.
Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

RELATED 

PICTURE BOOKS

Born Ready
by Patterson, Jodie
PICTURE BOOKS

The House of Grass and Sky
by Ray, Mary Lyn
PICTURE BOOKS

The Dog's Gardener
by Storms, Patricia
PICTURE BOOKS

And I Paint It
by Kephart, Beth
PICTURE BOOKS

Poem in My Pocket
by Tougas, Chris
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?