[Saturday Reads] A Grammatically Correct (Albeit Confusing But Infinitely Amusing) Love Story Of Ewes and Yous

Myra here.

Every Saturday we hope to share with you our thoughts on reading and books. We thought that it would be good practice to reflect on our reading lives and our thoughts about reading in general. While on occasion, we would feature a few books in keeping with this, there would be a few posts where we will just write about our thoughts on read-alouds, libraries, reading journals, upcoming literary conferences, books that we are excited about, and just book love miscellany in general.

Happy Valentine’s Day, fellow bibliophiles! I found the absolutely perfect picturebook to celebrate the day of hearts with you all. And it fits our theme (somewhat loosely) with talking yams and donkeys – that is pretty otherworldly.

You Loves Ewe! (Amazon | Book Depository)

Written and Illustrated by Cece Bell
Published by Clarion Books (2019)
ISBN: 1328526119 (ISBN13: 9781328526113) Borrowed via NLB Overdrive. Book photos taken by me.

It has been awhile since I have laughed uproariously over a picturebook, and I have Cece Bell to thank for this. Meet a grammarian yam, a dim-witted but lovable donkey, and a cute and fluffy heartthrob ewe. Who would have known that all these would make the perfect ingredient for a hilarious and fun picturebook that the world oh so needs?

I can sympathize with Donkey’s confusion. It is clear that he is unable to distinguish ewe from you. And so, yam tries very hard to clarify – with visual aids, at that:

I am not sure how many teachers are aware of this picturebook, but what a wondrous way to introduce homonyms to children – and spelling – and grammar.

Children would have so much fun learning from this bespectacled Yam who has the air of a professor about him – and our dense but beloved Donkey who seems delightfully inattentive – and not to forget the fluffy ewe whose primary job in life is to blush and look fluffy and cute.

Perhaps what would make the twist even more delightful is if ewe was shown to be smarter than yam in the end, as she chooses to open her cute mouth, and unexpected brilliance comes out. Regardless, I loved this picturebook. Find it! Laugh out loud and fall in love as I did.