I'm Not Cute!

by Jonathan Allen

Book Overview

WHOO's cute? Welcome back, Baby Owl Now this popular story is in board book format for the youngest children. With visions of himself as a "huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine," Baby Owl... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786837209
• ISBN13: 9780786837205
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
• Length: 28 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 2 to 5 years

Customer Reviews

Should be on more Booklists!

First of all I'd like to say I have no idea how this book isn't as popular as Mo Willems Pigeon series, cause Baby owl is an equally spectacular little bird! I came to buy the book and saw a measly five reviews and the first thought that came to my mind was how if I've never read a book I wont purchase it without hearing more than a couple rave reviews after the premise. So here I am and if I could I'd shout from the rooftops "BUY I'M NOT CUTE BY JONATHAN ALLEN" I would, its well worth the money. It is a short read-a-loud for toddlers but it was an instant hit with mine she loves to tell me how she wishes she had "see in the dark eyes" like baby owl and when someone tries to pinch her little cheeks now she yells "I'm not cute". The book is worth getting just to see your tots reaction.

A winner of a book

I checked this out to take to the beach for my 2.5 yo granddaughter. She loved it and we read it over and over. I ended up buying a copy for her because she loved it so much.

Too cute

This book has adorable illustrations and funny text. My one year old is not quite old enough to appreciate it yet but I think it is one of the best children's books I've come across in a long time and I'm sure he will grow into it.

One of the best!

This has got to be one of the best books i have seen in along time. The baby owl is adorable and the facial expressions are superb! I have read this book to several age groups, from infants to kindergarten age. A big hit for all groups!

Methinks the owl doth protest too much

My situation is a little different from most. I work with four other well-trained, well-read, fabulous children's librarians. That means that when a new children's book hits one of our desks, everyone starts salivating simultaneously. And if it's especially good the claws come out, the teeth bare, and the hair pulling begins. In the case of "I'm Not Cute", however, people were kept fairly civil if only because the book's such a short read. But guess who got to bring it home to review? HA HA HA HA HA! "I'm Not Cute" first came to my attention when a fellow co-worker ran up with it clenched in her hot little hands and pronounced that this was one of the best books of the year. I glanced at the author. Jonathan Allen. I've never heard of Jonathan Allen. I looked at the cover. A very fuzzy owl, as wide-eyed as the pigeon of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" fame, stares at the viewer under the words of the title. I didn't know what to think. Then I read through the book, closed it up, and made a startling conclusion. This is one of the best books of the year, bar none. Baby Owl, we are told as it stares fiercely at the viewer, "decided to explore the woods". He's under the distinct impression that his appearance will allow him to walk about uninterrupted. Unfortunately, a rabbit (with aspirations towards kangaroohood, by the looks of it) gives the cutey a big big old hug and tells him, "You're so cute, Baby Owl... And so small". This doesn't go down very well. The now thoroughly irate owl denies the charges. "I am NOT cute! And I am not small". What is he then? "I am a huge and scary hunting machine with great big soft and silent wings". But a fox sees the owl next and before you know it he too is petting and hugging the Baby Owl. Angrily Baby Owl cries, "I am a huge, sleek hunting machine with great big see-in-the-dark eyes". When a squirrel does exactly the same thing Baby Owl can take it no more. He complains to his mother that everyone thinks he's cute but he's not. Jovially his mother agrees that he's not cute at all. But this does not go down as well as it might. After considering a moment Baby Owl screams, "But I am cute!... I am! I AM!". Which Mama interprets, rightly, as a sign that Baby Owl needs to go to bed. As she tucks him in she whispers, "You're so cute, Baby Owl... For a huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine, that is". And Baby Owl is content. This is a toddler problem that I, for one, had completely forgotten about. Some kids just hate to be called cute. They may have big brown doe-eyes, or a head full of curls, or the sweetest little faces you ever did see. But call them cute? They'll have none of it. They are, in a way, human equivalents of sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machines. But you know what I thought when I first picked up the book? Readaloud. This book would make an EXCELLENT readaloud for preschoolers. I kid you not. Think how you could make the Baby Owl's voice dip and become dark and mysterious when he describ