ALA Booklist (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

"Being extremely cute doesn't mean you can't get EXTREMELY MAD!" Karen and her extremely cute animal friends are building sand castles in the park when a trio of bullies, bearing "snowboards, pogo sticks, and a bad attitude," knock them down once, twice, three times. Is it too much to handle? Not for these excessively adorable critters. "Move your butts! We have a job to do," says Karen. With bulldozer, crane, and heavy-lift helicopter, they build a superstructure of I beams into "the grandest sand castle plus amusement park anyone had ever seen," and thanks to a no-bullies policy, the bad-attitude oafs aren't allowed. Fortunately, Karen understands that bullying is a behavior, not an identity, and she lets the bigger critters in once they appear appropriately contrite. Bright pastel hues and smooth, broad shapes give the digital art a springtime feel, and you can almost hear the big-eyed, candy-colored toylike characters chirp and cheer as they work and play together. The combination of cute animals and construction equipment will delight a wide range of readers.

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

When playground bullies continually destroy their sandcastle, a group of "extremely cute animals" gets "EXTREMELY MAD" and builds an amusement park--"no bullies allowed." But since these cutie-pies are not extremely mean, they invite the bullies in, showcasing forgiveness over anger. Carried by hilarious juxtapositions, such as a tutu-wearing bunny wielding a blowtorch, this is a fresh take on bullying, empowerment, and empathy.

Kirkus Reviews

Tutu, torches, and tenacity don't add up to a simple, ordinary story. Readers meet tutu-clad Karen, an "extremely cute animal" building a sand castle, when bully Skyler appears, claiming, "This is MY sandbox and I say: NO STUPID SAND CASTLES!" He proceeds to stomp, smash, and flatten the castle and walks away laughing, leaving Karen in tears. Karen's friends—mostly nameless, also identified as extremely cute, and many sporting clichéd bows and dresses—announce that they'll help Karen build a bigger sand castle. Skyler then brings his friends, Mike and Trent, to destroy the now-improved structure. This happens a third time, to be followed by a red spread showcasing infuriated friends above the message: "Being...extremely cute...doesn't mean…you can't get...EXTREMELY MAD!" At this point, Karen brings on the titular heavy machinery, including a bulldozer, heavy-lift helicopter, forklift, and welding torches. The result? Circus tents, roller coasters, water slides, a Ferris wheel, bumper boats, carousels, and more entertainment. Gordon generously uses bright colors, and characters' emotions are expressive. A favorite wordless spread features Karen, in her tutu, wearing a welding mask and operating a blowtorch atop a beamed structure. Unfortunately, though, far too much of the heavy work is done by Joshua, the only other named "cute animal," while those in feminine garb watch adoringly. While readers may appreciate the messages of overcoming bullying and granting forgiveness, the story is hampered by cringe-inducing stereotypes. (Picture book. 4-8)