Review: Oh No!


When nonsense invites silliness, silliness begets joy. And joy is one of the best things we can feed to our young folk. Unfettered amusement is exactly what you're served in James Foley's, Oh No! 

I'm no grammar junkie but as a writer, I do adore a good dollop of onomatopoeia. Oh No! not only promises this from the very first end papers, it delivers it on every single page. Which is great for ramming home the meaning behind this multi-syllabic device, but also achieves the penultimate objective of any picture book, repeat read throughs. Every splish, splash CHOMP! is accompanied by the query of 'What's that noise?', because these onomatopoeic words describe sounds which set the scene for the aforementioned silliness and invite further investigation. 

It all begins with rapturous applause, or rather a pageful of clap clap clapping for an elephant with a very special cake. Sadly, things soon spiral into a vortex of catastrophic mishaps each more ludicrious than the last resulting in the repeated lament of 'Oh no!'. 

The opportunities for littlies to predict and adopt narrative agency and delivery here are enormous. Even if readers are not the type to voice noise aloud, visual clues provide meaning to each onomatopoeic word. Burps are green and smelly looking. Chomps come with fangs! This kind of textural emphasis creates the sort of visual humour that cements understanding and retention, something Foley is ace at. 

Bold colourful illustrations set the vibe without distracting readers from the jaunty, fast-paced, ride to the reveal at the end. It's a glorious, unexpected, book-ended twist that will ignite smiles and wonderment. Silly and frivolous? Definitely not!

Oh No! is a beautifully crafted, fun-infused romp through the English language and an anthopomorphic wedding that defies logic. The use of comic chaos will make it a useful classroom and bedtime favourite. 

My only problem is figuring out what a big blue, Peter Carnavas-esque blue whale is doing in the pig's pool?! Let me know when you figure this out for yourself.

Title: Oh No!
Author / Illustrator: James Foley
Publisher: Penguin, $19.99
Publication Date: 5 May 2026
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761355073
For ages: 4 - 9
Type: Picture Book

Buy the Book: Penguin Books         


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