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Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem
A blue whale is longer than thirty dogs lined up nose to tail. Its tongue weighs as much as four hundred cats. Blue whales make terrible pets....Just ask Billy Twitters.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2009
6 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
About the author
Mac Barnett
89 books1,309 followersBorn to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He's on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
November 4, 2009
This book is a total delight from beginning to end. And I do mean beginning (from the hilarious dedication) to the end (the author’s and illustrator’s biography sections on the back inside cover: the author is the founder of a convenience store for time travelers, seriously.)
I added this book to my san-francisco shelf because, even though in the book this could take place in any community close to the ocean, on the back cover is the Golden Gate Bridge in the background with the rear end of Billy Twitter’s blue whale shown going up a hill in the foreground. So, San Francisco it is!
I found this book to be hilarious, imaginative and creative, more so than most picture books.
I had to get used to the art style for the people’s faces, but I did. In general, the illustrations are outstanding.
The story is so brilliant: Billy Twitters gets punished for not cleaning his room by being given a blue whale for a pet, and he has to take care of it. There’s plenty of humor here for the adults. There are plenty of blue whale facts for both children and adults. Mostly, it’s a very entertaining story. My favorite line, given by the dad: “Try the sea.” given when Billy Twitters asks where he can find ten thousand gallons of seawater, needed to hold the krill to feed the whale. Reading this was a very enjoyable experience and I’ve already recommended it to one friend for her six year old great nephew.
I added this book to my san-francisco shelf because, even though in the book this could take place in any community close to the ocean, on the back cover is the Golden Gate Bridge in the background with the rear end of Billy Twitter’s blue whale shown going up a hill in the foreground. So, San Francisco it is!
I found this book to be hilarious, imaginative and creative, more so than most picture books.
I had to get used to the art style for the people’s faces, but I did. In general, the illustrations are outstanding.
The story is so brilliant: Billy Twitters gets punished for not cleaning his room by being given a blue whale for a pet, and he has to take care of it. There’s plenty of humor here for the adults. There are plenty of blue whale facts for both children and adults. Mostly, it’s a very entertaining story. My favorite line, given by the dad: “Try the sea.” given when Billy Twitters asks where he can find ten thousand gallons of seawater, needed to hold the krill to feed the whale. Reading this was a very enjoyable experience and I’ve already recommended it to one friend for her six year old great nephew.
December 11, 2020
"Billy Twitters, clean up your room, or we're buying you a blue whale."
You don't take responsibility for your actions? A blue whale will be delivered to your doorstep. You'll have to take that whale to school, you'll have to clean that whale, and you'll have to figure out how to move that whale around the neighborhood.
I think if my parents had ever told me I could have a blue whale, my chores would have definitely gone to the wayside. Of course, the warning here is being accountable for the largest being ever to grace the planet. Not so easy to do.
This was a pleasant story and I especially loved the Adam Rex artwork (the consistent 'whatever' look on the blue whale is a trip). Author Mac Barnett opened up the funky convenience store for time travelers in Los Angeles, and that quirkiness is there throughout this book.
Book Season = Spring (tidepooling ponies)
You don't take responsibility for your actions? A blue whale will be delivered to your doorstep. You'll have to take that whale to school, you'll have to clean that whale, and you'll have to figure out how to move that whale around the neighborhood.
I think if my parents had ever told me I could have a blue whale, my chores would have definitely gone to the wayside. Of course, the warning here is being accountable for the largest being ever to grace the planet. Not so easy to do.
This was a pleasant story and I especially loved the Adam Rex artwork (the consistent 'whatever' look on the blue whale is a trip). Author Mac Barnett opened up the funky convenience store for time travelers in Los Angeles, and that quirkiness is there throughout this book.
Book Season = Spring (tidepooling ponies)
March 1, 2019
Fed up with his continued refusal to clean his room and finish his baked peas, Billy Twitter's parents make good on their threat to buy him a blue whale. And so begins a hilariously surreal adventure, as Billy struggles to care for his new 100-foot pet, towing him around town on a skateboard, and disrupting his school and social life in the process. Punishment was never so entertaining - for the reader, that is!
Mac Barnett's unconventional narrative, which convinces the reader to accept the absurd as a matter-of-fact reality, is paired with Adam Rex's appealing illustrations. Quirky little visual details abound, from the fact that the faces of the adults are never shown, to the delivery of the whale by "Fed Up," rather than "Fed Ex."
Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem is the kind of book that makes me glad to read reviews. Not because I am anxious to substitute the reviewer's judgment for my own, but because I am sometimes convinced to pick up a title I may otherwise have overlooked, erroneously convinced that it "wasn't for me." How glad I am that this past weekend's New York Times Book Review led me to this delightful picture-book!
Mac Barnett's unconventional narrative, which convinces the reader to accept the absurd as a matter-of-fact reality, is paired with Adam Rex's appealing illustrations. Quirky little visual details abound, from the fact that the faces of the adults are never shown, to the delivery of the whale by "Fed Up," rather than "Fed Ex."
Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem is the kind of book that makes me glad to read reviews. Not because I am anxious to substitute the reviewer's judgment for my own, but because I am sometimes convinced to pick up a title I may otherwise have overlooked, erroneously convinced that it "wasn't for me." How glad I am that this past weekend's New York Times Book Review led me to this delightful picture-book!
July 2, 2019
This was a fun aloud for a crowd!
August 23, 2021
As punishment for not cleaning his room, Billy's bizarre parents get him a pet whale.
Now Billy's carefree childhood days are spent scraping barnacles and looking for krill.
I know this is supposed to be just a silly tale, but I couldn't stop feeling sorry for the whale long enough to enjoy it.
Now Billy's carefree childhood days are spent scraping barnacles and looking for krill.
I know this is supposed to be just a silly tale, but I couldn't stop feeling sorry for the whale long enough to enjoy it.
November 25, 2009
If my GoodReads friends hadn't given this such glowing reviews, I might have only given it three stars. I'll give it four, not due to peer pressure but because I think three is a bit unfair. You see, it's a very clever and funny book, I'm just not sure how much of an Adam Rex fan I am (sorry, Abigal, Chandra and Lisa!!!) Still, I think kids will love the over-the-top whale-tale and most will probably wish they could escape their problems in the way Billy eventually solves his! ;-)
February 17, 2015
This is a good book on it's own, especially for it being Mac's first book ever, but what really makes it, is the offer for the free blue whale on the back. When the kids write to the address, they get a letter informing them that unfortunately, their whale can't be delivered at the moment, but they get a phone number where they can call the whale and leave a message. It's great.
October 22, 2015
Amazeballs!
My daughter and I loved every word. :)
My daughter and I loved every word. :)
December 9, 2013
Our family fell in love with the Barnett/Rex partnership with
Chloe and the Lion
and
Guess Again!
. When I told my 6-year-old son who wrote and illustrated this book, he said excitedly, "They get the best books!"
His opinion on this one: "Good. But it was kinda weird."
While this one was enjoyable, it wasn't quite as good as the other ones we've read.
His opinion on this one: "Good. But it was kinda weird."
While this one was enjoyable, it wasn't quite as good as the other ones we've read.
January 26, 2012
This book was so hilariously, ridiculous, I loved it. I laughed more than the boys did as I read it. Billy's mom decides that if he can't keep his room clean then his parents are going to buy him a blue whale. He has to take it to school and take care of it, but in the end he finds a solution to all his problems. We loved this book. Mac Bernett includes some facts about blue whales and some evolution to go along with that, but since it was a read-aloud I was able to remove the evolutionary comments.
May 23, 2009
Mac Barnett did a great job with the story in this picture book - a blue whale would teach anyone the importance of responsibility, but let's be honest: it's Adam Rex that makes this book great. Whether it's his krill-of-the-month club endpapers or the sly humor of a girl her giant squid at the playground, Rex is what made me keep flipping back through this book again and again. And now I have my next tattoo picked out. Thank you, Adam Rex!
September 28, 2021
okay, but this also has some whale facts?
mac, you could do funny nonfic stuff this whole time? why are you holding out on me?
mac, you could do funny nonfic stuff this whole time? why are you holding out on me?
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January 19, 2023Not for me, or my inner child, or my younger self. I get the context, like the endpapers, but the it just doesn't click for me. Still a fan of the creators, though.
October 19, 2025
Far out, man!
July 25, 2019
Cute, kinda dumb, like much of Disney
July 1, 2009
When Billy Twitters misbehaves, his mom threatens to send him a blue whale. Billy knows how big blue whales are, so he's not worried. But then a block long packing crate shows up the next morning...
Adam Rex's clever illustrations meld well the Mac Barnett's text and the solution to Billy's problem may not be what you'd think...
Adam Rex's clever illustrations meld well the Mac Barnett's text and the solution to Billy's problem may not be what you'd think...
January 24, 2013
Prudence Wants a Pet started a discussion of "interesting" children's book about pets, including Cecil the Pet Glacier, and this one.
March 23, 2017
An example of bad parenting... which makes me think of a story I could tell...it might need to be a series..
April 28, 2020
Read on IG Live by Max Barnett 3/15/20 & 4/27/20
July 18, 2023
Billy Twitters was warned by his mother that if he didn't start cleaning his room or eating his peas they would have to get him a blue whale. He thought she was bluffing. She wasn't. So soon he finds himself saddled with a blue whale he has to take to school, keep entertained, and feed by the gallon. It's pretty awful until he has a grand realization.
This made me laugh out loud more than once (the first time was the shipping company name for the blue whale transport: "FedUp: Delivering Punishments Worldwide" 🤣). This was ridiculously imaginative. Billy definitely learns the responsibility lesson his mother wanted him to learn, he takes care of his whale very well, but I don't think it turns out quite as she had imagined. Rex's illustrations complement Barnett's text exceptionally well. They are a great team for picture books.
This made me laugh out loud more than once (the first time was the shipping company name for the blue whale transport: "FedUp: Delivering Punishments Worldwide" 🤣). This was ridiculously imaginative. Billy definitely learns the responsibility lesson his mother wanted him to learn, he takes care of his whale very well, but I don't think it turns out quite as she had imagined. Rex's illustrations complement Barnett's text exceptionally well. They are a great team for picture books.
December 13, 2022
Billy Twitters is continually not taking responsibility or care of his things, so his mother and father finally follow through on their threat to get him a blue whale. Now he has to take care of the whale and try to do his regular life responsibilities!
An absolutely bizarre situation, that people don't find all that unusual and hopefully teaches a life lesson with wonderful pictures, what's not to like? I also think it shows the hard work of taking care of another creature without having it seem super fun, so kids aren't likely to want a whale of their own (and this super whale doesn't need to live in water) and would be a good wake up call for the ones wanting puppies/kittens/bunnies/etc. to remind them they also need care.
No content issues.
January 18, 2018
From the dedications to the endpapers, this one tickles the funny bone. As always, love Mac Barnett and love Adam Rex. If you haven't already become familiar with their works, you should!
Can see using this one for a storytime actually, as it's silly enough, even with large textless picture spreads - would be good for whales or responsibility/chores. Would be a great one-on-one read too, with all the details in the pictures (much easier to see up close).
Can see using this one for a storytime actually, as it's silly enough, even with large textless picture spreads - would be good for whales or responsibility/chores. Would be a great one-on-one read too, with all the details in the pictures (much easier to see up close).
June 27, 2019
There's always a threat that parents make that you know they won't really go through with - or so you think before you read this book. Mac Barnett is so wonderful at creating situations that just have your mouth hanging open in shock and then laughter. There are things that his mind thinks of that I just don't know where they come from but I'm so glad he's thinking and writing. Aside from all of the wonderful angst, the blue whale brings to Billy, the fact that he "wins" in the end is a classic twist that I loved.
March 9, 2018
Billy gets an unwanted surprise when his mother orders him a pet blue whale in order to teach him a thing or two about responsibility.
This is a fantastic storytime book. It. Is. Ridiculous. Kids and parents alike LOVE IT. It's so out-of-the-box! Lots of opportunities to do silly voices with all the different characters (Billy's parents, classmates, teachers).
One caveat: It's a bit long. Definitely skip a few pages if your storytimes skew younger.
This is a fantastic storytime book. It. Is. Ridiculous. Kids and parents alike LOVE IT. It's so out-of-the-box! Lots of opportunities to do silly voices with all the different characters (Billy's parents, classmates, teachers).
One caveat: It's a bit long. Definitely skip a few pages if your storytimes skew younger.
July 3, 2019
An excellent marriage of factual information about whales with a fun, absurdist narrative. The illustrations are also great and probably deserve a more detailed examination than. One thing that jumped out at me was that Billy's parents always have their faces obscured. Perhaps this is represents how parents can be disconnected from their kids' perspective. Hopefully I'll have a chance to give it another look later.
March 16, 2020
During these trying times, Mac Barnett is reading out loud one of his books every day over on his Instagram page. I am absolutely LOVING this concept!
This book was his first pick, and it was a great listen. Mac knows exactly how to tell the story - as he wrote it - and it's just a delight to watch him tell it! The only downside is that you can't really stop on the illustrations during the video, but I still enjoyed seeing what I could see and can't wait to discover a new read tomorrow!
This book was his first pick, and it was a great listen. Mac knows exactly how to tell the story - as he wrote it - and it's just a delight to watch him tell it! The only downside is that you can't really stop on the illustrations during the video, but I still enjoyed seeing what I could see and can't wait to discover a new read tomorrow!
June 21, 2018
Mac Barnett is another author I heard about at the 2018 Bay Area Book Fest. Artist Adam Rex illustrated this cool story of little boy Billy and the blue whale (biggest mammal ever) his parents buy him because he won't clean his room or brush his teeth or eat his peas. I loved the story and the pictures.
November 26, 2018
Billy would not clean up his room or do anything without being reminded every time. When his parents follow through on their threat to buy him a blue whale as punishment, Billy learns how problematic it is to be responsible for such a big thing. His solution is surprising and funny. Great illustrations.
July 21, 2021
2.5 stars
This was just okay for me. Billy Twitters doesn't really learn his lesson. The illustration of the whale is the best part without doubt. I didn't find the children illustrations very appealing. The text wasn't as funny as I think it was trying to be
Other books about whales:
Amos & Boris
Ocean meets Sky
This was just okay for me. Billy Twitters doesn't really learn his lesson. The illustration of the whale is the best part without doubt. I didn't find the children illustrations very appealing. The text wasn't as funny as I think it was trying to be
Other books about whales:
Amos & Boris
Ocean meets Sky
August 25, 2021
This book just didn't do it for me. The illustrations are delightful but the book really doesn't hit the mark. It has facts about blue whales but not anything outside of the most basic of facts. Then the story seems to be focusing on a young boy who isn't responsible so his parents punish him with a blue whale. I just couldn't figure this one out and what it was going for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews