Sweety

Product Description

An Indie Next List Top 10 Pick!From the author of WOLF CAMP comes the story of a charming, mushroom-loving, headgear-wearing, totally awkward naked mole rat who is looking for like-minded peeps.

Sweety is awkward, even for a naked mole rat. She has protruding front teeth, thick glasses, and some very unusual hobbies, including interpretive dance and fungus identification. She’s intense and passionate–and her peers don’t always get her. But surely there are other mushroom lovers out there? As Sweety sets out to find them, she comes to realize–with a little help from her cool Aunt Ruth– that being Sweety is actually pretty awesome. With heart and humor and a whole lot of charm, Andrea Zuill delivers a story about learning to embrace everything that makes you
you–and that’s something many kids are going to relate to.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Sweety is a particularly awkward naked mole rat. She doesn’t always fit in with her classmates. She likes different things, like mushrooms and interpretive dance. Her grandmother calls her a square peg, but Aunt Ruth understands her. Aunt Ruth is a square peg herself and explains to Sweety that if the young mole rat stays true to herself, she will find her people. Sweety wonders who “her people” are and how will they recognize one another. Will there be a secret handshake? Sweety is indeed awkward, with head gear to pull her prominent front teeth together and thick eyeglasses. Pen-and-ink drawings, scanned and colored digitally in a washed color palette, depict the naked mole rats in clothing and other humanlike elements. Drawn with lots of squiggly black lines, tiny eyes, bald heads, and spindly limbs, the cast of characters could be described as adorable and dorky. Composition varies from page to page, ranging from spreads to multiple vignettes. The touching and comedic prose, dotted with an occasional conversation bubble, pairs perfectly with the adorkable characters. Square pegs rejoice, Zuill has created a worthy addition to her lineup of whimsical and lovable character-filled picture books. VERDICT A sweet and heartening selection, best shared one-on-one or in a small group setting.–Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services

Review

Booklist Editors’ Choice A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year

“With hilarious pictures and tender, observant writing, Andrea Zuill gets to the heart of what it is to be an oddball in ‘Sweety,’ an endearing picture book for children…” 
—The
Wall Street Journal

“Zuill takes a common theme—finding the courage to be yourself—and makes it funny, heartwarming, and inspiring.” 
—Booklist, starred review

About the Author

Andrea Zuill is the author-illustrator of 
Regina is NOT a Little Dinosaur, an Indie Next List selection;
 
Sweety, a 
Booklist Best Book of the Year;
 and 
Wolf Camp, a Children’s Choice Award finalist. She is also the creator of 
Business Pig,
 Dance Is for Everyone, and 
Marigold & Daisy. Andrea is the illustrator of 
Cat Dog Dog by Nelly Buchet
, an American Library Association Notable Book which was called “A clever, winning read-aloud for modern families” in a starred review from 
Kirkus. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in California, Texas, and New York. Visit Andrea on the Web at andreazuill.org or follow her on Twitter at @AndreaZuill.