Gilda la oveja gigante by Emilio Urberuaga. NubeOcho, 2018. ISBN 
9788417123239
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4
Genre: Picture book
What did you like about the book? This Spanish import, originally published in Spain 25 years ago, has been reissued. It features a giant sheep, Gilda, who runs away from her murderous shepherds when she learns they have tired of caring for her and want to slaughter her. She finds herself in a big city, which looks like New York. Suffice it to say that things turn out well, fitting a book for children! The book is in a large (10″ x 13″) format, emphasizing the size of Gilda herself. The story is told in a matter of fact voice, and takes up only a small part of the page, which keeps the emphasis on the large heroine and the sweeping vistas of the story. The art looks to be in ink and watercolor, in a pleasing luminous palette. It portrays the animals and the people, who are all pretty disappointing specimens of humanity, in caricature.
Anything you didn’t like about it? The dastardly plan of the shepherds definitely has more of a European sensibility. Will American audiences embrace a picture book where the shepherds run after a sheep with a huge knife?
To whom would you recommend this book? I’d recommend this to kids ages 5-7, who enjoy snarkier picture books, such as those by Jon Agee.
Who should buy this book? Larger elementary school and public libraries
Where would you shelve it ? Picture books
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Stephanie Tournas, Robbins Library, Arlington, MA
Date of review: October 16, 2018
Youth Services Book Review 
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