FICTION

Don't Kick Up a Fuss, Gus!

by Adria MESERVE
Don't Kick Up a Fuss, Gus! illus. by Adria Meserve. 40p. Little Bee. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781499801002.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Gus, an exuberant little zebra, doesn't want to leave the dry, dusty savannah for a long walk. Even though his parents and grandparents try to distract him with songs and games, he can't help but "kick up a fuss" during the trip. Eventually he calms down and he and his herd finish their migration and arrive in a lush green valley where he can kick up a happy fuss all he likes. Children will sympathize with Gus's boredom during the trip and find gleeful pleasure in his naughtiness. The colored pencil illustrations adequately show the barreness of the savannah and the lush, green valley. Additionally this is a good introduction to the idea of migration and drought, although those terms are never used in the text.
VERDICT Although this is an additional purchase, it would go well with any of Anna Dewdney's "Llama, Llama" books (Viking) and Jonathan Allen's I'm Not Scared (Boxer, 2014) for a tantrum storytime.
Reviewed by Melisa Bailey, Harford County Library System, MD
Young Gus, a zebra on the African savanna, does not want to go on "the long walk" necessary to reach lush grazing land. In spite of his family's attempts to make the trip fun, he acts out, each time earning the admonition, "Don't kick up a fuss, Gus." The slight story is given a boost by friendly illustrations that feature funny antics and good use of color to distinguish changing landscape.
 , Sep 01, 2015

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