From the Publisher
Fannie Fudwupper's big brother, Edwurd, spends his time cooking up big fibs full of phooey and letting them rip. But one day, Edwurd tells such a whopping lie that the army, the air force, and the dogcatcher are called to reverse the damage. Full color.
Publishers Weekly
A timid girl only wants some attention from her brother who is too busy fabricating stories to be her friend. When she tells a fib to save the planet, she finally earns his affection. "The alternating ink-and-watercolor caricatures with ultra-high-contrast images, exude an almost radioactive glow," said PW. Ages 6-9. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Publishers Weekly
"From a long line of liars, there's none higher upper.../ Than my fibbing big brother,/ The Edwurd Fudwupper," laments Fannie, a timid girl with freckles and corkscrews of orange hair. She only wants some attention from Edwurd, a mutated Dennis the Menace with a red-striped shirt, monstrously large head and creepy grin. But Edwurd is too busy fabricating stories to be her friend. In a sequence too convoluted to recount fully, Edward breaks a ceramic pig, lies about the deed and draws hostile attention from a three-eyed alien whose purple potbelly could easily contain the entire Earth ("Oh, it was dreadful! A real world stopper!/ All from an Edwurd Fudwupper fat whopper!"). When Fannie tells a "fat fib" of her own and saves the planet, she finally earns Edwurd's affection. Breathed (A Wish for Wings That Work) alternates ink-and-watercolor caricatures with ultra-high-contrast images, but their caustic whites and poison greens exude an almost radioactive glow. The author may approach the meters of Dr. Seuss ("Who is this gnat? Point out where he's at!/ Show him to me and I'll swat him down flat!" says the alien), but the tone, like the art, is mean-spirited and unfunny. All ages. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|
Children's Literature
From the creator of "Bloom County" comic strip and numerous acclaimed children's books comes a hilarious cautionary tale about the consequences of telling lies. According to Fannie, the narrator of this story, Edwurd (her big brother) has a slight fibbing problem. Actually, he is the biggest fibber in town. He cooks up outlandish tales and unleashes them on anyone who crosses his path. One day, however, his superior lying abilities land him in a heap of trouble. After breaking his mother's ceramic pig with a carelessly hit baseball, he tells his father that two passionate pigs from outer space are responsible for the mishap. When a hysterical neighbor, LornaMae Loon, overhears the story, she blames the space pigs for her friend's mysterious disappearance and calls in the troops to get to the bottom of the situation. Much to everyone's surprise, the ruckus on earth awakens a large, threeeyed alien from two galaxies away, who shows his discontent over the deafening noise and threatens to strike down the fibber. Before Edwurd's identity can be revealed, Fannie steps forward and takes the blame for her brother's lie. Touched by the girl's devotion, the galactic creature returns home and lets the humans sort out the rest for themselves. Edward soon discovers that his little sister is definitely a valuable ally to have around in sticky situations. The author's amusing illustrations and rhyming text really tickle the funny bone. In fact, this laughoutloud picture book is one of the funniest volumes I've ever read. I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up, and that's no lie! 2000, Storyopolis/Little Brown and Company, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
The Five Owls
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big is a book that will entertain readers of all ages. Such universal praise takes on special meaning for anyone who opens the dedication page, which reads, "The author wishes to thank President Bill Clinton, without whose daily inspiration this particular story just plain wouldn't have come to mind." The book can't help but attract an older audience, due to the author/illustrator's past fame for the comic strip Bloom County. Likewise, his bugged-eyed young humans evoke memories of Mad Magazine. The book's full title includes the faux credit "explained by Fannie Fudwupper." The younger sister of fib-meister Edwurd gives her side of the story—or stories. She's been framed once too often by her silver-tongued sibling. The book of rhyme takes a dramatic turn in two sentences: "Dad rushed on over and found Mom's cracked pig, Then Edwurd Fudwupper fibbed way WAY TOO BIG." A cascade of characters come to see if Edwurd Fudwupper can lie his way out of the ultimate mess. Fannie must save the day, in hopes that her brother might acknowledge her existence. Breathed's visual presentation provides hidden gems—nine in all. The bulk of the forty-eight-page book is filled with watercolors in a style familiar to fans of Sunday Bloom County panels. However, Breathed breathes life into five double-paged spreads, unleashing an array of acrylic splendor. When Breathed envisions some outer-space pigs discussed by the yarn-spinning protagonists, readers might be lulled into thinking the book is taking a futuristic course. But then, a World War II-looking air force swoops in for a double-page spread. An insomniac alien appears atop his vintage Volkswagen Beetle. Yes, thisbook for all ages is set in all ages. Just like Dr. Seuss's Oh, The Place's You'll Go! is a staple for graduation gift-giving, Breathed's Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big is bound to become a special-occasion present, too. The issues of honesty and sibling loyalty are dealt with in fanciful, fun fashion. But can Breathed rhyme with word-wizard Seuss? Not yet. The book would score a strong silver medal in any rhyming Olympics. Both authors are bound to tie tongues of unsuspecting adults who agree to read out loud. A practice run might be advised before sharing with young listeners. Breathed's meter hits a few bumps in the road, but he stays on course. The author's word-pictures help animate his cartoonish criminal. The exact cover credit reads, "with Berkeley Breathed Helping Slightly." Protagonist Fannie Fudwupper may never divulge Breathed's full involvement, but grateful readers will argue with his modesty. 2000, Little, Brown, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Thomas S. Owens — The Five Owls, September/October 2000 (Vol. 15 No. 1)
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-A smug, obnoxious, yet imaginative boy gets out of many sticky situations by telling whoppers in this rhyming tale related by his neglected little sister. One day he outdoes himself: "Edwurd dropped low; he was scared ten times double./He'd fibbed way too big and was now in HUGE trouble!" When a nosy neighbor overhears his story about alien pig-lifting beams, she calls in the army and airforce to find her missing friend, another victim of the boy's mischief. Nothing can stop the fib now-especially with the arrival of an angry monster alien. Fortunately for Edwurd, his sister bravely takes the blame. Touched by the little girl's devotion to her big brother, the creature heads home and Edwurd is off the hook, and he finally appreciates his younger sibling. This is a highly moralistic tale, but a wildly zany one, full of wordplay, alliteration, and outrageously expressive watercolor-and-acrylic illustrations. The cartoon talent of the artist shines through his unique perspectives, grotesque characters, and dramatic color contrasts. What fun-and that's no lie.-Ronald Jobe, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
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