Meet the Bigfeet by Kevin Sherry (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Meet the Bigfeet by Kevin Sherry Jeannette Hulick Sherry, Kevin Meet the Bigfeet; written and illus. by Kevin Sherry. Scholastic, 2014 122 p (The Yeti Files) ISBN 978-0-545-55617-0 $8.99 R Gr. 2–4 Blizz Richards, a yeti, narrates this short, heavily illustrated chapter book, introducing his extended family of yetis and a number of other cryptids (animals whose existence has never been proven). When Blizz gets an invitation for a yeti family reunion, he knows that he must find Brian, Blizz’s cousin who went into serious hiding after being seen and photographed by the villainous cryptozoologist, George Vanquist. The yeti family tracks Brian (an exceptional cook) by his large footprints and dropped sprigs of rosemary, and the reunion commences; but Vanquist has tracked them down, too, and photographs the yetis in action. Luckily, Vanquist’s much put-upon dog defects to the yetis’ side and hands over the camera to them, while Blizz’s pet arctic fox and a friendly raccoon lead Vanquist into a desert and abandon him. The plot is contrived at points, but the absurdity of the fantastical characters doing ordinary and not-so-ordinary activities offers some irresistible fun. The monochromatic art is executed in Sherry’s usual tidy, cartoonish style, and shaggy, noseless, rubber lipped Blizz, his equally fuzzy kin, and his other-species pals are appealing in their friendly simplicity. Larger illustrations alternate with spreads of comic-like panels; a series depicting the arctic fox’s responses to commands (including not only “Sit!” and “Fetch” but also “Do my taxes!”) is particularly amusing, as is Sherry’s tidily labeled diagram of Blizz’s backpack, in which a meatball sub is tucked into a pocket next to “Nolen,” a small, hamsterlike critter. This will appeal to reluctant readers, cryptid lovers, and fans of the absurd. Copyright © 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois