Globetrotting Twosome

Even the youngest children are familiar with place names but they usually are not knowledgeable enough to determine if what they know is a city, state, or country.  Some of my more memorable question and answer sessions during story time with kindergarten students have been when we attempt to identify places on a map or globe.    Given the speed in which we can become readily connected anywhere in the world and informed of events any time of day, working knowledge of people and places outside our immediate area is fairly important in becoming citizens of our planet.

The duo who introduced readers to the alphabet in A Is For Musk Ox and numbers and counting in Musk Ox Counts are back in all their guffaw-inducing glory.  The World According To Musk Ox (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press) written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers follows the team on a trip to the seven continents.  Get ready for a little learning and loads of laughter.

What happened to the globe?

What do you mean?

Nothing happened to it.

The only portion of the globe still attached to the stand is the area known as the Arctic.  Mr. Mischief himself has broken off the other portion.  Why would anyone care about the rest of the world?  Musk oxen are the best thing on four legs and they, of course, live in the Arctic.

Zebra, quick to point out his preference for Africa, (it is his home) gets a typical response from Musk Ox.  He has never heard of this place.  Deciding it's about time Musk Ox broadens his horizons, Zebra announces in his no-is-not-an-option voice they are off for a visit.

Immediately Musk Ox is too toasty.  Pointing out it is the hottest continent; Zebra kindly gets him a huge block of ice to place on his head.  While they are enjoying several different regions, Musk Ox happens to notice two wildebeests, promptly falling in love.

Continuing their adventure to the coldest place, Antarctica is next on the agenda.  Wind nearly blows them off the surface.  And did you know Antarctica is the largest desert in the world?  Still more shocking news awaits Musk Ox; there are more continents.

Sticking with alphabetical order their next stop is Asia.  A trio of facts, the tallest, the longest and the biggest, are casually relayed by the stripped guide to his woolly companion before they head down to Australia.  Zebra calmly notes two particularly nasty creatures known for being the most venomous in the world.  That sound you just heard was Musk Ox screaming like a baby.

Europe, among other things, holds the title for having spectacular ice caves known as Eisriesenwelt.  The duo does need to leave rather speedily for North America after you-know-who boldly goes where he should not have gone.  Zebra hurriedly points out there is more to this continent than the Arctic.  After traveling to one of the largest tropical rain forests in the world found in South America, Musk Ox wants to make one more stop; to a country not a continent.  I'll bet you can't guess where or why.

How fortunate for readers everywhere, when nearly two years ago Erin Cabatingan brought Musk Ox and Zebra into the children's literature world.  As in the two previous titles, the entire narrative is a witty no-holds-barred conversational exchange between the pair. Despite their differing personality traits, Miss Manners could probably learn a thing or two from Zebra but run screaming from the antics and attitude of Musk Ox, their relationship seems to be evolving into one where they are more tolerant of one another even if they rarely find common ground.  Here is a partial passage from one of the pages.  It is one of many moments of subtle hilarity.

What, no smart remarks?

Well, you do sound like you swallowed a computer.  But I suppose there are lots of interesting things in the world.

Besides musk oxen?

Possibly.  But don't tell anyone I said that.

An addition to the narrative is a series of Hysterical Marker points on each continent.  There may be one or two.  These, while informative, are not without their own sense of fun.  

IN 1911 THE SOUTH POLE WAS DISCOVERED BY 5 MEN AND 16 DOGS.  GUESS WHO TOOK THE CREDIT?

How can you not laugh when you open the book case?  A grinning Musk Ox is poking his head through the broken globe via a cutout to the title page.  Barely suppressing his disgust, Zebra wears part of the globe like a hat.  On the left (back) Musk Ox declares, while lounging on his traveling trunk being carried on the back of Zebra:

If you want a really useful book about geography...

this isn't it.

The title page and verso on the left feature an illustration crossing the gutter of Zebra struggling to haul the same huge trunk with Musk Ox on top holding a fancy drink.  The contrast between the trunk and Zebra's small stripped suitcase is just the beginning of great details sure to bring on the grins. 

In his paintings Matthew Myers never misses a beat, altering their size to fit the pacing of the storyline.  If Zebra and Musk Ox are having a transitional conversation, the background is usually a solid color.  If they are exploring a new place, Myers provides appropriate resplendent scenery with his comedic touches evident.  In the beginning Musk Ox is playing with toys, musk oxen, a Polar bear and a small road sign with arrows pointing in opposite directions, Minsk and Miami.  Zebra packed for their first stop is carrying his toothbrush in his tail.

If you look carefully at each illustration you can find many extras.  For each continent Zebra is wearing a different hat indicative of the area. Several times Zebra is providing the method of transportation for Musk Ox's trunk, a rolling snowball or a bicycle rickshaw, unless of course they are sliding down an icy slope or dropping over the edge of the Niagara Falls.

One of my favorite illustrations is the double-page spread devoted to their arrival in Europe.  At this point they are in Paris.  Zebra is unfolding a brochure of European sights labeled Hoofing It In Europe: A Walking Tour.  You can clearly see the label on his suitcase, Z. Bra.  The tape holding the globe together is visible.


The World According To Musk Ox written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers is one of the funniest adventures across the seven continents readers will likely have encountered to date.  The banter between the companions provides all the entertainment you could want while learning just enough information to peak your interest.  Get out your globe and ready this aloud to an audience of one or many.

To discover more information about Erin Cabatingan and Matthew Myers please follow the links embedded in their names.  If you would like to see more visuals from this title, head over to the publisher's website.  Half of my favorite illustration can be seen.

This review/recommendation is based upon an Advance Reader's Edition which I received from my local independent book shop, McLean & Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey, Michigan.  This title is set to be released on September 30, 2014.

Look Out Numbers, Musk Ox Is On The Move

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

The Milkmaid and her Pail

Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.

Albert Einstein

When angry, count to ten before you speak.  If very angry, count to one hundred.

Thomas Jefferson

Counting is part of everything we do everyday.  We learn about numbers at such an early age, it becomes as natural as blinking and breathing.  If you should happen to think learning to count is not important or downright fun, spend a day with kindergarten students, seeing the look of amazement in their eyes when they master counting from one to ten.

Five-year-old children are not the only ones who get a kick out of knowing numbers.  The dubious duo who made their first appearance in A Is For Musk Ox have returned in Musk Ox Counts (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press) written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers.  Mr. Que Sera Sera is still driving his striped companion crazy with his inability to follow the plan.

Hey!

What's going on?

Where's the

musk ox?

Musk Ox has decided to spend some time on the page for the number two with the yaks.  Being on the page for the number one was a tad bit too lonely for someone who enjoys the limelight as much as this guy.  Zebra is quick to point out the problem; there is now a zero where there should be a one and there are three where there should be two. 

Never one to not have a comeback ready, Musk Ox assures Zebra he will fix it.  His solution is to place a sign on Zebra's back reading, 1 Zebra Kick Me.  Maybe that page is now fixed (he has no way of knowing) but Zebra still believes the number two page is a mess. 

Musk Ox counters saying there really are only two yaks but Zebra says there are still three animals. That's when Musk Ox begins his biggest brainstorm yet; suggesting the book be changed to an addition book. His mathematical thinking is not what you might expect; 1 musk ox + 2 yaks = 3 hoofed, cold-loving animals.

Zebra begs him to go back to page one which Musk Ox reluctantly does, for about thirteen minutes.  Then he's off to another page.  Elephants scare him away, he scares birds away.

His numerical musing again leave much to be desired. (Much eye-rolling will be taking place.) Those birds he scared away, think the animals for page six look mighty tasty.  As Zebra trots to his own page for the number seven, Musk Ox has other plans.

At this point Zebra is fit to be tied; he's missed his page and landed among snakes, sleeping bears and a dog show.  Musk Ox's quick fix is to have them lie on their backs looking like they are ready to make snow angels.  Zebra's depression is now full blown.

The book is ruined. Zebra has no page.  Wait?! Musk Ox has an idea?!  It must be some idea because there goes Zebra chasing Musk Ox off the page and that rascal is grinning from ear to ear.

It is evident that Erin Cabatingan loves these two characters despite the fact they can rarely, if ever, agree on anything.  The conversational word-play, comprising the entire narrative, is a duel in the interpretation of what makes a counting book; it's Zebra versus Musk Ox, traditional versus devil-may-care. These two are ready to leap off the page into your presence with pizazz.  Here is one sample of an exchange between the two.

M: It's a good thing musk oxen have 4 stomachs, * (Technically, it's 4 chambers, but that just sounds weird.) just like cows.  Otherwise I don't know what we'd do for this page.

Z: You also have four feet.

M: So? That's not special.  Any old ninny can have 4 feet.

Z: I have 4 feet.

M: My point exactly.

There's not a single corner of wasted space on this title, beginning with the front cover; Matthew Myers takes us right into another rollicking romp with Musk Ox and Zebra.  Musk Ox leaves his mark with a less than complimentary drawing of Zebra on the blackboard.  On the back cover Zebra is on a scaffolding drawing 1rowdy musk ox + 1 annoyed zebra = 1 awesome counting book.  Of course Musk Ox is tucked into the bottom corner looking rather chagrined.  When you open the cover there stands Musk Ox, smiling broadly with a saw at his feet, having cut out the "o" so his face could peek through on the front.

Paintings by Myers extend the dialogue and generate enough humor to have your face aching from laughter.  Pale steely purple, tones of rose, sky blue with and without clouds, gray, white, gold provide backgrounds for his energetic visuals.  The body language and facial expressions match the moods of every single moment.  

Depending on the point in the story, the illustrations may be single or double page; some of the singles have Musk Ox's and Zebra's heads placed in cut-out circles as they speak, much like the people on the television show, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.  The placing of details adds to the comedy; the yaks and Musk Ox are playing Twister, Musk Ox is lounging with a pipe blowing bubbles, in the bear den there is a TV set with a remote lying on the ground, letters piling up near a mail slot and the tie, Zebra wearing a tie magnifies the difference between these two tenfold.  As I was trying to select a favorite illustration, I could not.  They are all uproarious.

If you are not acquainted with Musk Ox and Zebra you need to meet them as soon as you can, starting with Musk Ox Counts written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers.  Expect readers and listeners alike to enjoy counting along with this pair over and over. Then make sure you have a copy of A Is For Musk Ox at the ready.  I do believe a third book is planned for the future.

Please follows the links embedded in the author's and illustrator's names above to access their websites.  To see more illustrations from this title, follow this link to the publisher's website.