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Summary
Summary
Roly Poly, very small, doesn't like new things at all.
Meet Roly Poly Pangolin?a little pangolin who?d rather stick close to his mama instead of facing anything unfamiliar. Whether it's a line of ants, a friendly monkey, or a loud noise, Roly Poly runs the other way. Then he hears something that really scares him. So he does what all pangolins do when they?re frightened?he rolls up into a tiny ball. But Roly Poly is surprised when he finally peeks out, because another ball is peeking back . . . it's a small pangolin just like him
Anna Dewdney has created another irresistible character to reassure children about the world around them.
Author Notes
Anna Dewdney was born in New York City on December 25, 1965. She received a bachelor's degree in art from Wesleyan University in 1987. Before becoming a full-time author and illustrator, she worked as a waitress, a rural mail carrier, a daycare provider, and taught at a boys' boarding school for many years.
Her children's book career began in 1994 with her artwork for The Peppermint Race by Dian Curtis Regan. She went on to illustrate other children's chapter books in the 1990s. In 2005, the first picture book she both wrote and illustrated, Llama, Llama Red Pajama, was published. Her other books include Nobunny's Perfect, Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too, Little Excavator, and 10 more books in the Llama Llama series. She died after a 15-month battle with brain cancer on September 3, 2016.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
As in her Llama Llama books, Dewdney again taps into common toddler insecurities. This story stars Roly Poly, a young pangolin (a scaly, endangered mammal) who is very timid when it comes to the outside world ("Roly Poly, very small,/ doesn't like new things at all"). After running away from a furry animal who wants to play, he is frightened by a "teeny tiny" voice calling to him, and accidentally discovers pangolins' trademark defense mechanism. He trips and rolls himself into a ball for protection as he careens down a hill ("The world's outside/ but he's within-/ Roly Poly Pangolin"). Peeking out, however, he spies another small pangolin, and suddenly he's "not so frightened, after all," as he frolics with his new friend and the friendly monkeylike creature who appeared earlier. Dewdney's artwork, rendered on rough-textured canvas, feels less polished than her earlier books, but it readily transmits her protagonist's emotions. The story retains Dewdney's familiar rhyming couplets, and while this hero-perhaps by nature of his timidity-lacks some of Llama Llama's zip, his nervousness will be widely recognizable to readers. Ages 2-up. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Roly Poly, very small, / doesn't like new things at all." A pangolin (a scaly mammal that rolls into a ball when scared) is afraid of everything--until it discovers the joys of friendship. As in her Llama Llama books, Dewdney builds sturdy rhymes around a simple premise and gives her animal cast facial expressions certain to cultivate reader empathy. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Very few children will know what a pangolin is, especially preschoolers, but this scaly baby animal evidently has many of the same fears as little kids. In large type and rhyming sentences, listeners are told how Roly Poly is scared of new things, like something that might bite, bugs for dinner, playing with strange animals, and monster sounds. So Roly Poly does what pangolins do: he rolls up into a ball. When he peeks out, he sees another ball peeking back! He has found a friend. Roly Poly, very small, / feeling better, feeling tall. / So much to see, so much to do . . . / So much nicer when it's two! The scaly creatures are playfully but accurately illustrated, with the addition of expressive faces to reflect emotions. An author's note explains that pangolins are an endangered species and makes a plea for readers to visit her Web site to learn how to help. Book proceeds will go to Cuc Phuong National Park, in Vietnam, where research is being conducted.--Cummins, Julie Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-In this short rhyming story, a small pangolin is afraid of new experiences, including meeting other animals. When he hears an unexpected sound, he runs off in a panic, trips, and rolls into a tight ball to keep himself safe. But when he is brave enough to take a peek at what made the noise, he finds another rolled-into-a-ball animal just like himself. Roly Poly discovers that making new friends can be fun and is ready to explore his world. As with her "Llama Llama" books (Viking), Dewdney has created a lovable childlike character with whom most preschoolers can easily identify. Textured full-bleed pages interspersed with some small action drawings on white space convey movement. Expressive close-up illustrations aptly portray Roly Poly's feelings of insecurity and happiness. A note at the back of the book gives a brief explanation of these endangered animals and a Web site to find out more about pangolins. This charming book will be a welcome addition to most collections.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Roly Poly is a pangolin, a small, endangered mammal covered with scales found mainly in Africa, China and Southeast Asia. Pangolins roll up in tight balls to sleep or protect themselves, which Roly Poly does quite a bit, but real pangolins are also supposed to be expert problem solvers. Roly Poly, however, has a thing or two to learn in this area. "Roly Poly, very small, / doesn't like new things at all," is the verse repeated throughout the book when Roly Poly encounters a new food, new place or new friend. He reacts by either clinging to his mama or rolling up in a ball. Finally Roly Poly encounters another timid, balled-up pangolin, and together they find strength in numbers. The sentiment is easy to empathize with, but Roly's efforts to change are somewhat passive, and readers might wish for a more heroic act of courage on his part. Dewdney's functional illustrations present themselves cheerfully enough, but the textured green-and-brown palette becomes monotonous. Roly, alas, is no Llama Llama. (note on pangolins) (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
