Sharko and Hippo
By (Author) Elliott Kalan
Illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Balzer and Bray
26th February 2021
United States
Children
Fiction
Hardback
40
Width 254mm, Height 203mm
349g
With tongue-twisty wordplay and escalating absurdity, this is a fall-down-funny farce that will surprise and delight readersfrom television comedy writer Elliott Kalan and acclaimed illustrator Andrea Tsurumi.
When Sharko calls for a boat, Hippo pulls out a goat.
He wants a pole, but Hippo gives him a pail.
And instead of bait, a beet and a boot!
Hippos coat pockets seem to have everything except what Sharko asks for!
Will their fishing trip ever get off the ground
Kalans comedic duo brings to mind the iconic team of Chico and Harpo Marx. Dialogue in speech bubbles drives the narrative seamlessly, coupled with Tsurumis genial cartoon art, which downplays Sharkos teeth in favor of impressively emphatic eyebrows. Kids will laugh along with each picture cue as the silliness endures down to the last reveal, which discloses Hippos secret motive behind the foolishness. Kirkus Reviews Well-oiled comedic dialogue by Kalan (Horse Meets Dog) starts with a bang as Sharko and silent sidekick Hippo ready themselves to fish. Kalan and Tsurumi pay homage to humor that fights bossiness with anarchyHippo may look foolish, but its Sharkos plans that are utterly, gleefully foiled. Publishers Weekly
Elliott Kalan has written for television shows like Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and comic books like Spider-Man & The X-Men. Horse Meets Dog is his first picture book. Elliott lives with his wife and young son in Southern California, where he runs the Foundation for Animal Recognition, Mutual (FARM), dedicated to finally solving the serious public problem of horse/dog meeting confusion. Andrea Tsurumi is the author-illustrator of Crab Cake and Accident! and the illustrator of Not Your Nest!, Girls Who Code, and the Kondo & Kezumi series. She lives in Philadelphia with her spouse and their small serious dog. www.andreatsurumi.com.