Sneaky Sheep

By: Chris Monroe
Illustrator: Chris Monroe
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Publication Date: September 2010
ISBN: 978-0761356158
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: September 2010

Rocky and Blossom, two very naughty, sneaky sheep, were nibbling on clover in a meadow beneath the mountains. They lived with “147 other sheep and a sheep dog named Murphy.” Well, Murphy took very good care of all his sheep and he was onto the antics of Rocky and Blossom. They were always trying to get out of the meadow because the grass was always greener on the other side of the fence. They were a couple of born explorers and this time they had their eye on The High Meadow just below the snowy peak on one of the mountains. Well, they may have had their eye on that meadow, but Murphy had his eye on those two. They begged him to let them go. No way.

Every time Murphy took his eye off them they ended up in big trouble. There was the time they were pulled up in the air by balloons, were caught sunning themselves on the railroad tracks...oh, and what about the time they were caught playing poker with those dogs? No, they could not go because mountains could be very, very dangerous with things like rocky cliffs, avalanches, raging rivers, and old ladies who needed wool for their knitting. No, no, no, NO! The word “no” was not something Rocky and Blossom wanted to hear. They bided their time until Murphy wasn’t looking. They ran this way and that and that way and this and were going to hide behind a rock. Guess who was there? Murphy. Were Rocky and Blossom ever going to be able to visit The High Meadow or was that darned old Murphy going to catch them every time?

This adorably daffy duo, Rocky and Blossom, will delight the reader as they try once again to outwit Murphy, the sheepdog. Of course for those who know of sneaky sheep like these, their tricky, troublesome antics will be of no surprise, but for those who haven’t, there will be a lot of chuckling as these pages are turned. Every youngster tries to get away with a few things when no one is looking, but Rocky and Blossom will make them look good. Very, very, good. This book is a cross between a picture book and a beginning early graphic novel with some panels and balloon dialogue. If you’re up for a lot of giggles when you check up on a couple of two sneaky sheep this is one book you won’t want to hide behind a rock!

Quill says: If you have a youngster who always thinks the grass is greener on the other side, they might think otherwise when they see just how much trouble two little innocent, sneaky sheep can get into! BAAAAH!