Shhh! Tenemos un plan

Chris Haughton tells a simple story with illustrations that are reminiscent of Eric Carle.... With few words on each page and a repetitive pattern, young readers will delight in this engaging story. - Library Media Connection 'One of the most exciting author/illustrators in children's books today and this latest offering is a delight ... a lovely book for reading aloud full of expression and fun, with a final twist in the furry tail' Daily Mail 'An entertaining tale of hapless hunters being bamboozled by birds with plenty of repetition and humour to keep both a 20 month old and nearly five year old amused. And, of course, this against the backdrop of Haughton's distinctive illustrations, which are divine' Babino Goodies 'He scored critical hits with his first two books and is back with a third, brimming with the same offbeat humour and distinctive, bold artwork' The Bookseller Big, blocky shapes and intense hues make the action simple to follow, and Haughton's text is similarly telegraphic. ... The delicious stupidity of the hunting trio, the purity of heart of their small companion, and the sweet-tempered drama of each page turn make this a classic exercise in picture-book making. - Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW) With cover art recalling Ungerer's The Three Robbers and the wry sensibility of Klassen's Hat books, this is a natural choice for any storytime. A spare, humorous text pairs with blocky, digital illustrations to tell the story... Plan on repeated readings. - Horn Book (STARRED REVIEW) In a gorgeous nocturnal landscape of deep purples and blues, four figures go marching along. ... They tiptoe towards the bird with hilariously expressive body language... In a breathtakingly rich spread, a flock of colorful, jewel-toned birds appear and drive the schemers into retreat. ... A masterful delight, this crafty caper has huge kid appeal and a title/refrain that will easily sneak into the family lexicon: shh! We have a plan. This perfect blend of circular narrative, deceptively spare art, and humor becomes a story that kids will want to read at storytime, at home, and to themselves if no adult is handy. - School Library Journal 'One of the most exciting new voices in children's literature, comes a new picture book about a beautiful bird, an unquenchable desire and plans gone awry' The Publisher's Association's Best New Children's Books Summer 2014, The Guardian 'packed with atmosphere ... a journey which no reader is likely to forget' Independent on Sunday (Starred Review) There's a bouncy staccato music in the carefully structured text, and listeners will quickly anticipate the patterns and helpfully join in on the repetitions as they root for the little guy who knows better than the big fools. Haugen's art is original yet easily legible... The temptation to act this out will be almost irresistible, so channel the impulse into an organized (or even semi-organized) performance. - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 'Picture book perfection' Metro This slapstick adventure (rendered in brilliantly saturated colors) demonstrates that if the best laid plans often go awry, then poorly laid plans don't stand a chance. - Huffington Post 'Pleasingly spare and simple in design and storyline, and ending with a good joke, this is a perfectly executed picture book. ... Chris Haughton plays tribute to Tomi Ungerer's classic The Three Robbers in using only muted blues and blacks while the hunt is on, before bursting into colour as the joke unfolds' Guardian 'Wonderfully quirky, hilarious and utterly engaging' Junior - Best Books for March Haughton's stylish digital illustrations in chunky patches of color make masterful use of hue and contrast-the jazzy warm-toned birds are vibrant when set against the crepuscular blues of the friends and the woods. With only a few words total, a repeated refrain, and a visually unmistakable plot, this is a great choice for emergent readers or a group storytime. - Booklist