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Baabwaa and Wooliam

A Tale of Literacy, Dental Hygiene, and Friendship

Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
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Paperback
$7.99 US
8.5"W x 10.25"H x 0.15"D   | 6 oz | 80 per carton
On sale Mar 02, 2021 | 40 Pages | 978-0-7636-9937-6
Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Fountas & Pinnell N
additional book photo
A hilarious and satisfying tale of literacy, dental hygiene, and friendship from David Elliott and Melissa Sweet that is sure to have readers in stitches from start to finish.

Baabwaa is a sheep who loves to knit. Wooliam is a sheep who loves to read. It sounds a bit boring, but they like it. Then, quite unexpectedly, a third sheep shows up. A funny-looking sheep who wears a tattered wool coat and has long, dreadfully decaying teeth. Wooliam, being well-read, recognizes their new acquaintance: the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing! The wolf is so flattered to discover his literary reputation precedes him that he stops trying to eat Baabwaa and Wooliam. And a discovery by the sheep turns the encounter into an unexpected friendship.
  • FINALIST | 2017
    Cybils
  • AWARD | 2017
    Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year
Written by David Elliott, this hilarious romp shares a timely and powerful message — that even our enemies can become friends when we discover common threads and common stories. Melissa Sweet’s outstanding art is whimsical and playful.
—The New York Times Book Review

Elliott's tale is cleverly humorous and a joy to read aloud. Sweet's illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media are a stellar accompaniment...The characters are all highly expressive, and the graph paper and strands of yarn in the page design add to the nonstop merriment. Great for knitters, for readers, for fun-seeking adventurers.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Elliott’s droll sense of humor generates lots of laughs—“It says here I’m cruel and sneaky!” complains the wolf after learning how to read. “And your point?” responds Wooliam—which Sweet (Some Writer!) capitalizes on in mixed-media scenes that embody the simultaneous dopiness and intrepidness of the sheep, as well as the wolf’s mix of menace and vulnerability. An off-kilter adventure with charm to spare.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

With illustrations created in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media, this picture book is sure to hold the attention of early elementary children...A fun modern take on the big bad wolf. The colorful visuals warmly convey the drama and excitement of the enjoyable text.
—School Library Journal

David Elliott’s ever-so-clever tale of two sheep, Baabwaa & Wooliam (ages 4 to 8), has the makings of a classic...The story’s droll humor is underscored by Melissa Sweet’s illustrations, which have bold touches of color and smart details (check out the nifty trailer the sheep call home). Here’s hoping Elliott continues the adventures of this wonderful, woolly pair.
—BookPage

This humorous tale features two wooly friends who love knitting and reading. While searching for an adventure, they must learn to work as a team when they find a wolf in sheep's clothing—literally.
—Shelf Awareness Pro

This is an amusing delight because of both the tongue-in-cheek voice (“Knitting is a very practical hobby for a sheep. It’s surprising not more of them do it.”) and the sprightly mixed-media art...Underpinned by a love of reading (and knitting), there’s plenty to enjoy here.
—Booklist Online

Sweet’s colorful and expressive illustrations, done in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media, add to the fun of this entertaining tale of an unlikely friendship.
—Literacy Daily

The playful multimedia illustrations perfectly match the lighthearted, droll story that's a tribute to reading.
—The Providence Journal
David Elliott says that his sister really does have a cat with one eye and that she was the inspiration for the cat in this story (the cat, not the sister). View titles by David Elliott

Photos

additional book photo

About

A hilarious and satisfying tale of literacy, dental hygiene, and friendship from David Elliott and Melissa Sweet that is sure to have readers in stitches from start to finish.

Baabwaa is a sheep who loves to knit. Wooliam is a sheep who loves to read. It sounds a bit boring, but they like it. Then, quite unexpectedly, a third sheep shows up. A funny-looking sheep who wears a tattered wool coat and has long, dreadfully decaying teeth. Wooliam, being well-read, recognizes their new acquaintance: the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing! The wolf is so flattered to discover his literary reputation precedes him that he stops trying to eat Baabwaa and Wooliam. And a discovery by the sheep turns the encounter into an unexpected friendship.

Awards

  • FINALIST | 2017
    Cybils
  • AWARD | 2017
    Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year

Praise

Written by David Elliott, this hilarious romp shares a timely and powerful message — that even our enemies can become friends when we discover common threads and common stories. Melissa Sweet’s outstanding art is whimsical and playful.
—The New York Times Book Review

Elliott's tale is cleverly humorous and a joy to read aloud. Sweet's illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media are a stellar accompaniment...The characters are all highly expressive, and the graph paper and strands of yarn in the page design add to the nonstop merriment. Great for knitters, for readers, for fun-seeking adventurers.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Elliott’s droll sense of humor generates lots of laughs—“It says here I’m cruel and sneaky!” complains the wolf after learning how to read. “And your point?” responds Wooliam—which Sweet (Some Writer!) capitalizes on in mixed-media scenes that embody the simultaneous dopiness and intrepidness of the sheep, as well as the wolf’s mix of menace and vulnerability. An off-kilter adventure with charm to spare.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

With illustrations created in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media, this picture book is sure to hold the attention of early elementary children...A fun modern take on the big bad wolf. The colorful visuals warmly convey the drama and excitement of the enjoyable text.
—School Library Journal

David Elliott’s ever-so-clever tale of two sheep, Baabwaa & Wooliam (ages 4 to 8), has the makings of a classic...The story’s droll humor is underscored by Melissa Sweet’s illustrations, which have bold touches of color and smart details (check out the nifty trailer the sheep call home). Here’s hoping Elliott continues the adventures of this wonderful, woolly pair.
—BookPage

This humorous tale features two wooly friends who love knitting and reading. While searching for an adventure, they must learn to work as a team when they find a wolf in sheep's clothing—literally.
—Shelf Awareness Pro

This is an amusing delight because of both the tongue-in-cheek voice (“Knitting is a very practical hobby for a sheep. It’s surprising not more of them do it.”) and the sprightly mixed-media art...Underpinned by a love of reading (and knitting), there’s plenty to enjoy here.
—Booklist Online

Sweet’s colorful and expressive illustrations, done in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media, add to the fun of this entertaining tale of an unlikely friendship.
—Literacy Daily

The playful multimedia illustrations perfectly match the lighthearted, droll story that's a tribute to reading.
—The Providence Journal

Author

David Elliott says that his sister really does have a cat with one eye and that she was the inspiration for the cat in this story (the cat, not the sister). View titles by David Elliott