Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong by Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Alex Willmore. Scholastic July 2024. PB Hardback RRP $19.99. ISBN 9781761527760

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Bicycles say Cock-a-Doodle Dooo, firefighters shout Ding-Dong before they put out a fire, and flowers go chugga, chugga, chooo, chooo…. wait! What?

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

This picture book, by the New York Times bestselling author Drew Daywalt (author of The Day the Crayons Quit), is a fun title for young children. The story is told through the voice of an anonymous narrator, who gets nearly every sound and object (for example, a dog described as a bicycle), incorrect for the subject at hand.

On each page is a yellow rectangular character challenging the narrator, who briefly appears to get it right and then continues on the wrong tangent. The yellow character becomes increasingly frustrated with the narrator and proclaims he is taking over the book. But in the end, it continues to be completely topsy-turvy and the yellow character declares, “Well, I guess if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!, making his own selection of noises.

Young children will have fun making the sounds themselves, and trying to identify which sound the animal, person or object should make. Suitable for children up to 5 years of age.