Ursula Upside Down - by Corey R Tabor (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Ursula is a happy catfish, swimming through a shimmering river with weeds waving above and a sky full of scrumptious bugs below. Then one question turns her world upside down. Is left right? Is right wrong? Which way even is up? Children will [turn] the book upside down and back again as they follow Ursula's humorous journey to self-discovery"--

Book Synopsis

Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Younger Readers of 2024

School Library Journal Best Books of 2024

ALSC Notable Children's Books

Indie Next Pick

Ursula finds confidence in seeing the world her own way in another innovative, flipped-format picture book from Caldecott Honor and Geisel Award winner Corey R. Tabor.

Ursula is a happy catfish, swimming through a shimmering river with weeds waving above and a sky full of scrumptious bugs below.

Then one question turns her world upside down.

Is left right? Is right wrong? Which way even is up?

Children will love turning the book upside down and back again as they follow Ursula's humorous journey to self-discovery.

Review Quotes

Praise for SIMON AND THE BETTER BONE: "The illustrations are so warm and scribbly one can almost feel the yarn and fluff of this dog. The moral here is that our reflections contain not only what we possess, but also what we have lost and what we have given-- in an act of kindness -- away." - New York Times

"Giving readers a front-row seat to a comical encounter based on Aesop's "The Dog and His Reflection," Tabor once again takes a picture book's physical form into account, asking readers to open it vertically. Digitally assembled pencil, colored pencil, and acrylic art, which combines textures scribbly and velvety, chronicles Simon's unsuccessful attempts to best his "scrawny little" rival with a series of challenges and a "polite warning." Is Simon a silly dog? Of course--and a real sweetheart, too." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Young listeners will explode into giggles as they recognize Simon's toddlerlike mistakes, all the while appreciating his good (and not-so-good) intentions. Tabor's smudgy illustrations depict Simon with warmth and humor in a gentle park setting... the author/illustrator also deftly folds in a joke-filled lesson about sharing and friendship. Kids will fall in love with this enticing introduction to Aesop--and with Simon. A charming, clever, and feel-good version of a classic fable." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This book's unique orientation cleverly uses the gutter in the vertical double-page spreads to show Simon and his reflection. Tabor effectively uses simple lines and curves to show Simon's dynamic emotions and movements. The pastel color palette complements the gentle tone, while the exuberant scribbles in colored pencil and joyful dabs of acrylic paint underscore the childlike spirit of the story. This is sure to be a storytime favorite." - Booklist

"Tabor updates Aesop's Fable "The Dog and His Reflection" with a little more goofiness and a bit less pedantry, and the clever unfolding layout of pages to reveal Simon's reflection immediately brings kids in on the joke, ensuring storytime engagement. Smudgy, dappled textures in pastoral hues make a cheerful background for shaggy brown Simon whose expressive tail and ears effortlessly convey his joy, frustration, and glee." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Ursula is a happy pink catfish who enjoys her life eating bugs, only to be asked one day why she swims upside down. . . . This query causes her to doubt her viewpoint, and if she might be in the wrong. . . . And with. . . the now much-anticipated "Tabor turn". . . readers are instructed to flip the book upside down. . . Tabor's mixed-media illustrations bring levity to the book's more serious message, and the book-flipping and page-turns give readers a tactile, sensory experience of changing perspective."

- Horn Book Magazine

"Tabor's book once again makes smart use of vertical orientation to enhance this story. The preschoolers at whom this playful story is aimed will delight in being one up on the main character. Friendly pastel-hued illustrations with white space and loose, energetic lines capture the abundant vigor of a young pup. The egocentric stage of a child's development has never been so expertly (and adorably) depicted." - The Horn Book

Praise for MEL FELL: "The mixed media drawings, alive with wonderful textures and soft colors, show Mel executing an impressive aerial somersault before blithely hurtling headfirst in parallel with the tree trunk as inhabitants below are thrown into comic panic, convinced that Mel's dive-bombing will result in disaster.... 'Hope' may be the thing with feathers, but Mel proves that 'gutsy' can be, too." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Young people, who find themselves on the precipice of new activities, routines, schools, and challenges so frequently, will savor this little kingfisher's success and perhaps feel they can right themselves the next time they fall into a downward spiral....Encourages children to feel brave, to try, and to believe they can soar." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"There's a good deal of humor in this lighthearted story; a slug keeps promising to help but never makes it far, and a fly is liberated ("I'm free!") from the spider's web when Mel falls through it. Tabor's relaxed, loose-lined illustrations capture the energy of the fall as well as Mel's endearing, determined personality." - Horn Book (starred review)

"Caldecott Honoree Tabor has once again found a subject that aligns well with his love of flipped formats. Pink, plump, and whimsically whiskered, Ursula lives in a "wonderful world"--signature-style illustrations depict a blissful underwater environment in sun-streaked, translucent aquatic tones. Offering a funny reminder that perspective need not be isolating." - Publishers Weekly

"Tabor's luminous mixed-media landscapes in a pastel palette meld beautifully with the increasingly emphatic text to convey Ursula's emotional journey. Tabor gently reframes questions of perspective. . . . This clever and heartfelt picture book will wow at storytimes." - Booklist (starred review)