From carefully aimed pouts and shifting blame to the threat of an all-out tantrum, this laugh-out-loud story for kids and adults focuses on the clever antics, advantage-taking, limit-testing, and childhood shenanigans of three-year-old Emmy. When Emmy spills juice and her dad's pants get "orange-hosed," she takes refuge behind Mom's knee. Expecting a reprimand, Emmy is surprised when Mom tells Dad, "Now, sweetheart, you should let it be. After all . . . she's only three." Once Emmy discovers that she's too young to be punished, she constantly wrangles her way out of trouble by proclaiming, "I'm only three!" and pulls a handy weapon from her arsenal of manipulative maneuvers. With hilarious, rhyming text and energetic ink and watercolor illustrations that capture Emmy's expressions, from angelic to livid, readers discover that Emmy can't get away with her outrageous behavior forever and that her actions do eventually have consequences.

About the Author
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Reviews
"In this laugh-out-loud-funny book, the little girl uses all her wiles to get herself out of trouble until the final episode when even her usual plea that works with mum comes unstuck: 'I sweetly answered, ''Don't blame me. Did you forget? I'm only three.'' ' It's a little hard to believe that this little problem-maker is only three, but the premise is a great one - if a child is allowed to get by with murder, she will continue to cause mayhem. In super rhyming couplets and the kind of expressive illustrations that add miles to the text, we see this three-year-old catastrophe on legs get by with dumping orange juice down her dad's new trousers, blaming her brother for an accident she caused herself, and using her sister's things without asking. But what disasters! Dad twigs that all is not well when she digs a hole while playing pirates and tries to bury all the family silver. And even mum becomes suspicious when the living room is littered with broken biscuits and mess from an early morning breakfast. And then there is the grandaddy of all messes that finally brings the whole family together in knowing who is to blame. The little girl is sent to bed: 'I sadly closed my bedroom door. I may be here until I'm four.' The huge humour makes the point extremely well without preaching. The book should be in every young 'madam's' library!" - HealthyBooks June 2011
Reviewed by Debbie and Lauren Talbot - "My 6 year old little girl has read this lovely book twice now. I asked her to write down what she thought of it and was very puzzled to read these comments. "It was really bad I don't want to read it again, rubbish.' The penny then dropped. When questioned some more, Lauren told me that she didn't like the book because the little girl could not always have her way. I think her comments were a combination of this reason and the fact that mummy has asked her to tidy her room and she really didn't want to. As a parent, I think that this wonderful book teaches children the importance of not always having things your own way as well not taking things without asking and sharing with siblings. The illustrations are fabulous and the text easy to read. Lauren had no problems reading any of the words in this book. Because it is a hardback book it can be wiped clean, great news around those 6 year old mucky hands." Rating: 5/5
"Parkins'. . . cartoon-style ink and wash vignettes . . . focus on Emmy's yowls of indignation and insouciant smiles. . . . Newcomer Krasnesky writes tightly disciplined verse that never flags. . . . This is a fast-moving crowd-pleaser made for reading aloud." --Publishers Weekly
"Krasnesky tells the story with flowing rhyme that accommodates the humor of the plot and heightens Parkins's comical cartoon illustrations." -- School Library Journal
"Emmy masterminds a (practically) foolproof plan to avoid trouble . . . Her animated expressions perfectly capture her scheming antics . . . She pouts her way into her family's hearts . . . The verse . . . does . . . partake of Silverstein['s] subversiveness." --Kirkus Reviews
"Emmy gets away with everything--she's only 3, after all--until her parents reach the limit of their patience, and Emmy must face a new concept: consequence." -- Parent & Child Magazine
"Clever rhymed couplets . . . comic opera . . . lively vignettes . . . You do not have to love cats to enjoy this romp." --Children's Literature
"Bouncy rhymed text and humorous . . . illustrations follow little Emmy's path of destruction. Mom comes to her rescue, but the mishaps pile up . . . older siblings will be satisfied by the tale's ending." -- Horn Book 2010
"Will resonate with parents everywhere . . . fun to read and fun to listen to . . . a perfect bedtime story . . . capturing the essence of a mischievous three-year-old." -- The Sacramento Book Review
"A playful, expressive, dramatic, and very loveable protagonist. [This book] will undoubtedly leave many readers looking forward to Emmy's future adventures." -- Florida Reading Journal (January 2012)


Awards
Commended for Florida Children's Book Award 2012.



Book Information
ISBN 9780979974649
Author Thad Krasnesky
Format Hardback
Page Count 32
Imprint Flashlight Press
Publisher Flashlight Press