The Flock

"Cartoon art outlined in black depicts green-dominated pasture scenes against white space offset by blue and dark gray tones for Mike’s sleepless setting, enhancing the amusing premise of this offbeat but heartening narrative. A humorous take on a long-standing tactic for combating insomnia. (Picture book. 5-8) – Kirkus Throughout, plain backdrops provide human characters’ skin tones, and scribbly sketches by Guridi depict the rule-following animals with simple features and stick legs. – Publishers Weekly Both the English and Spanish version read smoothly with a sly sense of humor. Great for kids who feel a bit different and an excellent bedtime story. – Youth Services Book Review ""A singular picture book for curious kids who appreciate layers of meaning and reflection in their stories—and just the right amount of silliness"" –  Starred review in School Library Journal. The Flock, by Margarita del Mazo, beautifully dramatizes this quandary: that numbers are at once alike and wildly different. The numbers One through Nine enter as sheep who usually jump single-file over a hurdle while a sleepy boy named Mike counts. One night, Four refuses to jump. It is a numeric and a narrative crisis, which the illustrator Guridi animates with humor and urgency.  – Counting on Conversation. The New York Times A nice story about standing out from the crowd. The illustrations are cute and expressive. – Kiss the Book Jr."