Nope

In what’s nearly a one-word story, a small blue bird refuses to leave the nest and attempt to fly. Gazing down at the ground far below, it imagines that all kinds of nasty predators await: a hungry cat, a pack of dogs licking their chops, and even circling crocodiles. “Nope!” the bird declares, succinctly summing up its intention to stay put. “¡No! Nein! Nyet!” The bird’s mother, who has been watching her child’s protestations with more than a little bemusement, does what any good parent might: she offers a hug and a kiss, and then gently dropkicks her offspring (“Boop!”) into the ether. Instinct takes over, and the bird quickly discovers not only that it can fly but also that the world is more benevolent than it imagined. Editorial cartoonist Sheneman makes a solid children’s book debut with this memorable parent-child pair—the baby bird’s sense of drama may remind some readers of Mo Willems’s beguilingly histrionic Pigeon—and his crisp digital illustrations and playful sense of composition never miss a comic beat. Ages 3–5. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. [em](Jan.) [/em]