Pardon Me! by Daniel Miyares (review)

The peace and quiet of solitude on his tiny island is what our parroty little protagonist enjoys, but the tranquility is soon shattered when a chatty stork lands alongside him with a cheery “Pardon me.” Then a leaping frog, followed by a swimming turtle, settle themselves onto the increasingly crowded island with a “Pardon me” apiece as well. When a nearby fox starts a sentence with “Pardon me,” the little bird loses it in a tantrum that sends his island mates scurrying away. Unfortunately, the fox was trying to impart valuable information: the little bird’s island is actually a crocodile, and when the croc surfaces, the little bird abruptly disappears and the reptile gives a satisfied summative burp, followed by a genteel if smirking “Pardon me.” The bird’s fate seems a little extreme as a punishment, but it sure is funny, and the all-dialogue text is a natural for performance as well as reading aloud. Miyares’ luminous digital illustrations set the scene in sweeping double-page spreads of cobalt sky and delicate green rushes, while the kinetic, brush-swept animal figures have an intriguing combination of fine texturing, translucent details, and saturated tones; their big eyes and extravagant gestures neatly suit the humor of the tale. In addition to its performative possibilities, this could make a lively companion to other stories that end with surprise mealtimes, such as Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back (BCCB 11/11).