ALA Booklist (Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2018)

Here the creators of I Love You like a Pig (2017) kick off a series of level-one easy readers (this copublishes with Jack at Bat) starring a simply drawn cartoon monkey in a yellow shirt who makes Curious George look like a choir-primate. Living in a tree over a scrum of discarded trash, Jack waves a friendly hello to a gray-haired lady, then snatches her purse, and steals lipstick from it rst to draw lips on himself and on dog Rex and then to tag Rex and the invitingly white walls of the lady's house with his name. Virtuous new readers will happily chime in on Barnett's large-type narrative, which is largely composed of repetitive judgments: "Bad Jack! / Jack, you are bad." Step-by-step drawings for the three main characters at the end add an art lesson to this natural companion to Jack Gantos' Rotten Ralph books or Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty (2005).

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

We first meet Jack, a baseball-capped rabbit, as he waves hello, munches on snacks, and--swipes a woman's purse?! This initial encounter in Hi, Jack! sets the tone for the first four installments of Barnett and Pizzoli's easy-reader series: a roller coaster of sour and sweet moments for Jack, his dog friend Rex, and the nameless Lady. (Once he returns her purse. And her lipstick.) Jack makes trouble wherever he goes, from the baseball field (Jack at Bat) to outer space (Jack Blasts Off!), and the direct-address narration instructs him to mend his ways (in a not-always-constructive manner: "Jack, you are bad. You are a bad Jack. A bad, bad Jack"). Barnett makes creative use of a limited and largely decodable vocabulary for comedic effect, which invites beginners to read with expression and confidence. Pizzoli's illustrations, full of bold outlines and saturated colors, amplify the energy and dynamism in each story line. The text and illustrations work in tandem, sharing the weight of the narrative and blurring the lines between the picture book and easy reader genres while conforming to the physical specifications of the latter. This series promises an energetic romp through the good, the bad, and the bunny.

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

A bunny behaves badly. But is he all bad?In the first of three chapters, an unnamed narrator immediately breaks the fourth wall and introduces a bunny named Jack (presumably a jackrabbit, given his name). Ever the friendly, pizza-loving mammal, Jack waves a cheerful hello to readers. But the mood shifts when the Lady comes along. Jack descends from his treehouse to snatch the elderly human woman's purse. "Bad Jack!" scolds the narrator. "Jack, give that back!" Jack does—but not before using the Lady's lipstick on himself! Subsequent chapters detail Jack's further misbehaviors involving a farm dog named Rex and another encounter with the Lady in her home. The interplay between Barnett's verbal and Pizzoli's visual humor results in rollicking surprises at almost every page turn. Repetition and a total word count of fewer than 90 words (at most 17 per page) provide ample support (and entertainment) to emerging readers. Pizzoli's technique combines firm black outlines, solid fill, and printlike backgrounds, creating textured, wonderfully expressive cartoon illustrations. Sequel Jack Blasts Off! publishes simultaneously and takes the duo's winning formula into an outer-space setting—proving that good manners really do transcend species. Both books end with instructions on how to draw various characters. Adult readers may note that Jack's too-consistent wickedness combines with minimal consequences to send mixed messages.Bad bunny. (Mostly) good book. (Early reader. 5-8)

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

In this promising series opener, Barnett and Pizzoli introduce a mischievous monkey named Jack, a dog named Rex, and a lady named the Lady. In the first of three stories, Jack steals the Lady-s purse and goes wild with her lipstick. -Rex! Why are your lips red? Your lips are bright red!- writes Barnett in the second, poking fun at repetitive early-reader language. Barnett works wonders with a limited vocabulary, packing the stories with humor, tension-and admonishments of Jack. Given Jack-s lipstick-powered vandalism, readers will guess that the Lady-s house won-t stay -nice- for long (-Here are her white walls. Here is her nice art-). Pizzoli-s scruffy-edged, emotive cartoons are just as funny, and he carries the comedy into drawing lessons and closing endpapers. Yep, more lipstick is involved. Available simultaneously: Jack at Bat. Ages 4-8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Feb.)