Goodnight, Mr. Clutterbuck

August 1, 2017
A sleepwalking goat dispels crises, wreaks gooey havoc, and solves a mysterious rash of disappearing spoons in this Finnish import.With his frantic guinea pig, Gus, scurrying along to flag down street traffic, Mr. Clutterbuck ("Herra Hakkarainen" in the original Finnish) drifts out in his nightshirt for inadvertent adventure. He brings rival biker gangs together, saves Wally Wurst's sausage factory, causes a major mustard spill in the railyard, inspires a rock band with impromptu lyrics--"SQUICK-SQUELCH MUDDY BUTT! BRATTY POOPY POO!" ("Rude and crude and just what we need!" squeals manager Ramp Fibian)--and pulls off other exploits, all unawares. Finally, the morning after he helps nab feathered felon Picklock Pete and recover a huge stash of stolen spoons, the grateful town presents the confused caprine with a gift that leaves the exhausted Gus, at least, delighted: a treadmill. An all-animal cast prone (except for Mr. Clutterbuck) to comical overreactions crowds cartoon illustrations that are properly replete with silly details and side business. There's more text than in a typical picture book, and the already-busy design can seem overwhelming, but silly names and situations should keep older listeners hooked. No more nighttime expeditions for Mr. Clutterbuck--unless there's a power failure, of course. (Picture book. 6-8)

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November 1, 2017

Gr 2-4-One of Finland's most beloved characters, a sleepwalking goat by the name of Mr. Clutterbuck, makes his U.S. debut in this unlikely heroic tale. Kunnas, acclaimed Finnish children's author, creates a lengthy textual story surrounded by detailed cartoon illustrations reminiscent of Steven Kellogg's work, where exuberance bursts from each page and readers must invest in the small details to fully appreciate the story. This is no hardship, for quirky characters and expressive faces abound, enlivening Mr. Clutterbuck's world and the subsequent ridiculous antics that lead him to resolve conflicts. Mr. Clutterbuck begins his journey before the cover page, sleepwalking across the title page as his adorably exasperated pet, Gus the guinea pig, follows behind to keep him out of trouble. During the course of Mr. Clutterbuck's jaunts, he cuts a swath between rival motorcycle gangs in a speeding shopping cart, causes a dog riot at Wally Wurst's Sausage Factory, becomes a singing sensation at a hit band's recording session, engages in a dance marathon across railroad tracks, jumps on a series of dangerous rides at an amusement park, and inadvertently solves a crime that's baffled the local police for days. Upon awakening, he is continually surprised by his dishevelment. Each escapade brings resolution to others; for example, the rival gangs reconcile with each other and the dog riot helps Wally Wurst realize he should be making dog food, thereby saving his business. Readers will delight at the clueless hero's unintentional merits, as well as the humorous final twist. VERDICT Hand this amusing story to older picture book readers who enjoy poring over minute details. A strong addition.-Rachel Zuffa, Racine Public Library, WI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2017
Grades 1-3 Although a homebody at heart, Mr. Clutterbuck, an urban-dwelling billy goat, encounters motorcycle gangs, barking dogs, rock bands, and wild and crazy amusement park rides while walking in his sleep and remaining clueless, no matter how rough and tumble the situation. Because each nighttime encounter results in an improvement to the communitygangs are reformed, a sausage factory is savedMr. Clutterbuck is given a present by an appreciative town council: a treadmill, which will curtail his nighttime adventures. The text is longer than in most picture books but stays right on target as it describes the far-fetched action. The imaginative illustrations are definitely at the cluttered end of the spectrum, and are populated with so many different types of animals that even the varied residents in Richard Scarry's books pale in comparison. Complex storytelling with intricately detailed illustrations results in a tale that will engage those with the patience to follow a couple of story threads, as well as those who like illustrations stuffed to the brim.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)