School Library Journal

PreS-K-A jaunty, rhymed text provides a litany of unlikely scenarios- sheep in the shower, hens in the swimming pool-some of which work better than others. It's Mathieu's wacky and inventive illustrations that really carry the show. His expressive animals lift weights, dangle off diving boards, and cavort in a variety of crazy outfits. Kids will enjoy the silliness, even if the book isn't as much fun as John Cameron's If Mice Could Fly (Atheneum, 1979; o.p.). Teachers will appreciate the final page, which invites readers to ``tell me what you see,'' making the title a spirited springboard for creative activities. Useful, but not especially memorable.- Lori A. Janick, Parkwood Elementary School, Pasadena, TX

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

Mathieu's exuberant art sets off Numeroff's neatly veiled silliness"""" in this """"antithesis of a nonsense rhyme--a verse that derives its kid-appeal by its apparent sensibleness,"""" said PW. Ages 4-7. (Sept.)

Kirkus Reviews

...And pigs don't wear hats/And dresses look silly/On Siamese cats,'' begins this cheerful litany, by the author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985), of ridiculous impossibilities- -the last few seen from a different perspective after Numeroff suggests,Now just close your eyes/And draw with your mind...tell me what you see? <p> ...And pigs don't wear hats/And dresses look silly/On Siamese cats,'' begins this cheerful litany, by the author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985), of ridiculous impossibilities- -the last few seen from a different perspective after Numeroff suggests,Now just close your eyes/And draw with your mind...tell me what you see? It's your dream--not mine!'' Using soft pencil and watercolor against a white ground that dramatizes the lively activity, Mathieu, a frequent illustrator of Sesame Street books, visualizes such unlikely scenes as skunks on scooters, a skiing yak taking a header, or gnus building a ``gnu'' house in a spirited, comical style that's sure to appeal to the preschool crowd as much as the deliciously silly text does. (Picture book. 4-7)</p> "

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1993)

A verse details a list of things animals 'don't' do: 'Moose don't go bowling / And hens never swim / And you'll never see roosters / Working out in a gym.' Readers are invited to think of other items to add to the list. The verse is fun but fairly average; the color illustrations of anthropomorphic animals are cartoonlike.