One Smart Sheep by Gary D. Schmidt (review)

Wilson is Abigail Atwood’s “friendliest, wooliest, smartest” sheep, and while he enjoys his time in the pasture, he enjoys the company of Abigail and her border collie Tippy more. When the pasture’s gate is left open one day, Wilson seizes the opportunity to trot down to Abigail’s little house but accidentally winds up in a delivery truck headed to the city. Abigail soon notices Wilson is missing, and with the help of her mechanic neighbor, she and Tippy drive to town to find the disappeared shearling. Wilson is clever, however, and after escaping the truck, he heads home, using the various noises he heard on his trip (a jackhammer, bells, etc.) to find his way. A charming simplicity and breezy execution mark this effective easy reader. Stealthy repetition and carefully structured sentences build on and stretch developing literacy skills, while Wilson’s journey supports comprehension, cueing the reader to double back to the sheep’s initial ride in the truck to guess what sound he’ll hear next and where he’ll go. Fully saturated illustrations bring vibrancy and movement, and the blending and smudging of the watercolor and pencil art provide texture and depth. Fluffy Wilson, with curls and swirls of white wool, is wonderfully expressive, and dashing Tippy, with sleek black-and-white fur and a jaunty tail, is a close second in the cuteness factor. Fans of DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson will surely want to pal around with Wilson and Tippy.