APA Citation: Wiesner, D. (2013). Mr. Wuffles! New York, NY: Clarion Books.
Plot summary: Despite being spoiled when it comes to toys, Mr. Wuffles just isn’t interested in what his owners buy for him. He is very much interested, however, in the mysterious tiny spaceship that lands in his house… and the alien creatures inside. When the enthusiastic reception does a number on the ship and the aliens find themselves stranded, an unlikely alliance forms between them and some local insects. Will they be able to work together to get the ship up and running again?
Relation to other works: This is completely different from anything I’ve ever read; the story is almost wordless, instead relying on interesting symbols to represent the languages spoken by the aliens and the insects.
Appeal: As the story is told almost entirely through the illustrations, it goes without saying that the work is an incredible piece of art. The symbols used for the alien language is really fun to try and decipher, and Wiesner does an amazing job capturing recognizable emotions without adding any text.
Audience or readership: Ages 4-8.
Limitations or weaknesses: It is certainly a non-traditional picture book, and as such some parents may find it difficult to read aloud.
Overall assessment: A strong concept and strong execution make this picture book stand out. Using symbols instead of words, and employing a comic-style panel layout, younger children may have a difficult time following the plot. In my opinion, however, this offers a great chance for readers to puzzle out the story, and even create a new story based upon their own interpretations. Beautiful, bright images and a clever (and unique!) premise make this a fun option for storytime. Grade: A+
KIDS LIT FTW! 