Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Once children can recognize and read the title, they will easily be able to navigate the rest of this book. "Dude!" is (almost) the only word uttered throughout the story. Sometimes it is printed in large capital letters, sometimes in diminutive lowercase. The word may be surrounded by a jagged speech bubble, stretched out with five U's, spoken by one or many, or decorated with sprinkles, but part of the fun of this picture book with graphic-novel overtones is interpreting the proper intonation from the context. A platypus and a beaver are the first two friends to call out to each other as they race to the beach, surfboards at the ready. After an encounter with sea-gull droppings (heralded with one of the few additional words: "SPLAT!"), a shark is spotted. It is cajoled with ice cream, so the nervous duo's chorus is soon voiced by an exultant trio. Santat varies the page design to pace the over-the-top emotions and action, employing diagonally framed panels, cameos, small insets, and full-bleed double-page spreads. Disaster occurs at the rocks, and if observant readers hadn't noticed the warning sign at the story's opening, subsequent readings will reveal this foreshadowing and other clever details. The three dudes resolve the damage, ultimately sharing a sweet denouement under the sunset. Surprises, mayhem, potty humor, sharks, and ice cream: What's not to like? (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Once children can recognize and read the title, they will easily be able to navigate the rest of this book. "Dude!" is (almost) the only word uttered throughout the story. Sometimes it is printed in large capital letters, sometimes in diminutive lowercase. The word may be surrounded by a jagged speech bubble, stretched out with five U's, spoken by one or many, or decorated with sprinkles, but part of the fun of this picture book with graphic-novel overtones is interpreting the proper intonation from the context. A platypus and a beaver are the first two friends to call out to each other as they race to the beach, surfboards at the ready. After an encounter with sea-gull droppings (heralded with one of the few additional words: "SPLAT!"), a shark is spotted. It is cajoled with ice cream, so the nervous duo's chorus is soon voiced by an exultant trio. Santat varies the page design to pace the over-the-top emotions and action, employing diagonally framed panels, cameos, small insets, and full-bleed double-page spreads. Disaster occurs at the rocks, and if observant readers hadn't noticed the warning sign at the story's opening, subsequent readings will reveal this foreshadowing and other clever details. The three dudes resolve the damage, ultimately sharing a sweet denouement under the sunset. Surprises, mayhem, potty humor, sharks, and ice cream: What's not to like? (Picture book. 4-6)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The versatile word dude can act as a question, a warning, or an exclamation of delight, and Reynolds (Creepy Pair of Underwear!) uses it all of these ways and more as the single spoken word of his story. A platypus and a beaver almost jump out of their board shorts when a shark surfaces in the waves behind them. -Duuuuude!- they shriek. But the shark wants to be friends, and it speaks their language: -Dude...?- it ventures. The beaver paddles ashore and returns with an ice-cream cone with sprinkles; the platypus offers the shark a spare surfboard, which is even better. -Dude!- they chorus, catching the same wave. Santat (After the Fall) pours on the special effects, and the shark-s massive body, double rows of teeth, and bathing suit (his tail fits through one leg, the other hangs empty) add danger-tinged comedy to every spread. It-s a story about welcoming the stranger, but the many dopey laughs and Santat-s panoply of goofy facial expressions deliver the message with sprinkles on top. Ages 4-8. Author-s agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. Illustrator-s agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Apr.)