Chris Monroe's humor and intricate illustrations draw high praise from reviewers and bloggers alike. Chris is also the author and illustrator of Totally Uncool and the comic strip Violet Days, which has been in print for more than 20 years. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.
"Despite the dangers they encounter, the two not-very-bright sheep
in this hilarious story continue to make "some bad decisions" and
are always saved by loyal sheep dog Murphy. Monroe's (Monkey with a
Tool Belt) illustrations expand the story with quirky, comical
details about the sheep's rebellious activities. "They had been
known to make some bad decisions over the years," reads the deadpan
text as Rocky and Blossom are seen sunning themselves on railroad
tracks, running with bulls, and playing poker with dogs in an
homage to Coolidge's series of paintings. Eager to check out a
distant mountain meadow, they repeatedly sneak off--sometimes
bursting through the borders of Monroe's panels--but are always
retrieved by Murphy. Rocky and Blossom's wide googly eyes exude
mischievousness, especially compared to the wedged snout of the
vicious wolf who chases them to a cliff's edge in the story's
climax. Both the text and artwork celebrate disobedience, and those
looking for a cautionary tale should look elsewhere: the ending
hints that some habits (especially bad ones) die hard. Luckily, the
same isn't true of Rocky and Blossom." --Publishers Weekly
"For Rocky and Blossom, living among 147 other sheep in their
lowland meadow is like torture. Especially when, high up the
mountain, there appears to be a patch of choice clover. 'That
meadow up there SURE looks sweet!' says Rocky (or Blossom--they
look pretty much the same). The one problem is Murphy, the kindly
cattle dog who recalls that the troublesome two 'had been known to
make some bad decisions over the years.' Monroe's squiggly,
mischievous illustrations hit a high point here, using a two-page
spread to show the sheep's past foibles: skating a half-pipe
(without helmets!), suntanning on train tracks (while listening to
iPods!), running with scissors (scissors!), and so forth. The
irascible duo is tons of fun to follow across the pages; Monroe
even blasts them through panel borders to illustrate just how
'incredibly sneaky' they are. Ultimately, a dark forest, a hungry
wolf, and a steep cliff figure into their comeuppance--though a
final page suggests this won't be their last dubious deed. Monroe's
comic timing is positively Mo Willems-esque." --Booklist
"Mischievous sheep Rocky and Blossom finally escape the watchful
eye of sheepdog Murphy, then go gallivanting in the off-limits High
Meadow. When a wolf appears, Murphy shows up at just the right
moment. All sorts of sheep-related dangers--from steep cliffs to
wool-crazed knitters--are humorously rendered in illustrations that
make effective use of white space and dialogue bubbles." --The Horn
Book Guide
"Rocky and Blossom are serious troublemakers. These sheep have been
known to skateboard without helmets, sunbathe on train tracks, and
even run with scissors. Murphy the sheepdog doesn't trust them a
bit, and, when he hears of their interest in the forbidden high
meadow, he begins to watch them like, well, a sheepdog. Then one
day while he is distracted, they make a successful break. They hide
themselves in the company of a hungry wolf and are suddenly in
mortal danger. Trust Muphy shows up to save them, of course, and
all is well for the fluffy, fast-moving, not-so-forward-thinking
pair. Monroe's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are
entertaining: kids will enjoy following Rocky and Blossom's antics
both in and out of panels. And who knew that sheep eyes, simply
circles and dots, could say so much? Even though they can't be
trusted to stay where they belong, be sure to make a place on the
library shelves for these rebels." --School Library Journal
"Rocky and Blossom are sheep who have a reputation for disobedience
and mischief. They most certainly do not want to follow the flock;
they want to explore a world wider than the low meadow. In the past
they have run with the bulls, played with fire and been involved in
a variety of other 'bad decisions.' Murphy, the sheepdog, knows all
about them. In this inaugural adventure, they get into a
particularly dangerous situation involving a wolf and a cliff, but
wise and steadfast Murphy saves the day. Monroe's comic-book
background is evident. Sharp, bright, cartoon-like illustrations in
a variety of sizes and shapes are interspersed with short
declarative sentences. These are rendered in dark, large type in a
mixture of upper- and lower-case letters and placed above, below
and in the middle of the illustrations without ever cluttering the
page. The text is further augmented with bubbled dialogue and
labels. The silly antics will tickle young readers, who will want
to visit with these daring sheep again and again. Fun for all."
--Kirkus Reviews
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