The Many Adventures of Johnny Mutton
Written and illustrated by James Proimos

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Harcourt,2001
$16.00 hardcover ($6.00 paper)

Johnny's feelings are hurt when other kids laugh at him. He looks forward to the first day of school. He wants to win the spelling bee. He sometimes says things he doesn't mean.

The alert reader will notice that Johnny is, in fact, a sheep. This makes for amusing pictures on the page. But since no one -- including Johnny -- seems to realize he is a sheep, the book is about Johnny, not his sheep-ness.

The other kids bring apples for the teacher; Johnny brings a bag of marshmallows. They dress as pirates and witches for Halloween; Johnny goes as a giant nose. It rarely, if ever, occurs to him that he is being different. He is simply being himself.

With speech balloons and pictures arranged in boxy panels, The Many Adventures of Johnny Mutton has all the appeal of a comic book. The format may not lend itself to group story-hour at the public library, but it's bound to entice some youngsters into reading it by themselves. And kids are certain to see themselves in Johnny. Even if he is a sheep.

Dust jacket art by James Proimos; image used courtesy of Harcourt, Inc.

Reviewed by Wendy Morris. © 2001 by Wendy Morris

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