Weasels by Elys Dolan

WEASELS BY ELYS DOLAN IS REVIEWED BY MARYANNE LOCHER.

– ALSC Notable Children’s Books
⭐︎Starred Reviews – School Library Journal & Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books –

What do weasels do with their time when they’re not being chased by monkeys around mulberry bushes? According to Elys Dolan, debut author and illustrator of the uproarious picture book Weasels, (Candlewick Press; 2014, $17.99, Ages 5-8) they drink coffee, eat cookies, and …

… plot world domination!

All of this plotting to take over the world is done from an elaborate high-tech secret lab. All systems are go until a blackout shuts down the whole operation and mayhem takes place while the weasels try to fix the problem.

Dolan’s anthropomorphized weasels are reminiscent of characters from an Austin Powers movie. The evil mastermind weasel even strokes a little pet while orchestrating his villainous plot. Children will have fun with all the opportunities to find humorous details in the elaborate multi-media illustrations as well as in the backdrop of conversations between the weasels. My personal favorite is one weasel putting out a fire with an extinguisher while the other says,

“I just thought a few candles would cheer the place up.”

I missed the cause of the blackout my first time reading Weasels. Going back through the book, I could see why. Dolan’s use of color and action threw me off course, but in a good way. The one white weasel in the book, both creates the problem and ultimately solves it. Only one question remains; Will the weasels take over the world? There must be a sequel to this book.