Weasels
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Wacky mayhem as bumbling weasels reset doomsday machine.
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Based on 1 parent review
Fabulously funny, clever book with great intricate illustrations.
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What's the Story?
Think weasels just eat nuts and berries all day? Wrong! Turns out they're busy plotting world domination in a big control room with a giant world map, lots of computers and video screens, and a monocled evil leader who sits and strokes his white mouse like a James Bond villain might do. As the story starts, "[T]oday is the day they'll take over the world." The electronic countdown begins, but one of the weasels -- easily spotted in a blue scarf -- trips over an electrical cord (while carrying a tray of gourmet coffees to his colleagues), inadvertently unplugging the doomsday machine. But nobody notices him, so the weasels spend most of the rest of the book frantically trying to troubleshoot and fix the problem -- all while drinking lots of "frothuccinos" and mochas.
Is It Any Good?
WEASELS takes a wacky idea and runs with it to hilarious effect. Each spread is filled with busy weasels -- many clinging to their coffee drinks, some in white lab coats or audio headsets and holding clipboards. They use all sorts of tools (blowtorches, drills, saws, wrenches) to detect the problem and fix the machine -- until a representative from Health and Safety shuts them down. Then they turn to the laboratory: "Don't worry. We can solve this with science!" says one weasel. Sharp readers know the answer is simply plugging the machine's cord back into the wall.
The watercolor-and-ink illustrations are packed with fun details and deadpan observations such as, "Without this drill I am nothing," as well as subtle pop culture allusions, as when the game "World of Woodcraft" is seen on a computer screen. There are also plenty of silly moments to entertain little ones, such as a weasel accidentally spilling coffee on the head of his coworker. The endpapers that follow the last page offer a glimpse of what weasel world domination looks like -- including weasels on the money, on the moon, and on the "Starweasels Coffee" logo. Loads of chuckles for kids and adults.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about animal characters. What's fun about seeing animals do things you think of people doing, such as having jobs, operating computers, drinking gourmet coffee drinks, and using blowtorches?
Why do you think the author picked weasels as the animal trying to take over the world? What kind of reputation do weasels have?
The endpapers show some pictures of what the world would look like if weasels took over. Pick another animal and draw some pictures of what world domination would look like under its rule.
Book Details
- Author: Elys Dolan
- Illustrator: Elys Dolan
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Candlewick Press
- Publication date: February 25, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Hardback
- Last updated: March 11, 2020
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