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Weasels
Weasels. What do you think they do all day? Plot world domination — that’s what!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2014
1 person is currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Elys Dolan
26 books24 followersElys Dolan grew up in a part of England that consists almost entirely of trees and cows, and she was named after a department store in Wimbledon. She’s never let either of these things hold her back and recently graduated from the Cambridge School of Art. She was awarded second place in the Macmillan Prize and was also short-listed for the Waterstone’s Picture This Prize. She lives in Cambridge, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
April 9, 2017
I ordered this from my library the moment I read Skye's review saying if she had only ONE book to read again, it would be this book!
/review/show...
If you skip her review, I'll say it is a picture book about our assumption that weasels when we aren't watching them in some zoo are just doing normal weaselly things. This book establishes weasels as seeking World Domination, so watch out. And the weasels, in case you're in the least bit startled and worried by this news, as it turns out they are not so great at World Dimination, actually. And there are lots of refs to things like Austin Powers and other things in it.
/review/show...
If you skip her review, I'll say it is a picture book about our assumption that weasels when we aren't watching them in some zoo are just doing normal weaselly things. This book establishes weasels as seeking World Domination, so watch out. And the weasels, in case you're in the least bit startled and worried by this news, as it turns out they are not so great at World Dimination, actually. And there are lots of refs to things like Austin Powers and other things in it.
March 19, 2017
If I could only read one picture book ever again, it very well might be Weasels. It's like a classic James Bond movie without James Bond, where the villain trying to take over the world is... a bunch of weasels. They have a secret laboratory, global communications, an international network of secret agents, a table-sized map in the war room where they push around little model tanks and weasel armies to plan their strategy, a seemingly endless supply of fancy coffee, a zealous health and safety officer, and a giant world-taking-over machine. Which is currently broken. Don't panic though! It might be fine if they just, um, reconbobulate the hydrostability devices. Or something?
It's rather hard to read out loud because the main narrative is only about 50% of the text - the rest is weasels talking to each other and ridiculous signs. But once we read it the first time and Boy Detective got the general idea, he's found something new to laugh about every time we re-read it. (And he doesn't even get the Austin Powers or World of Warcraft references.) So have I, actually. It's just exquisitely funny and I'm sad that I just found out there was a Weasels mug and I don't have one.
It's rather hard to read out loud because the main narrative is only about 50% of the text - the rest is weasels talking to each other and ridiculous signs. But once we read it the first time and Boy Detective got the general idea, he's found something new to laugh about every time we re-read it. (And he doesn't even get the Austin Powers or World of Warcraft references.) So have I, actually. It's just exquisitely funny and I'm sad that I just found out there was a Weasels mug and I don't have one.
May 27, 2019
The weasels try to take over the world. Not very successfully.
The book does not have much of a story, but it is full of wonderful little details in the illustrations. Some of them hilarious.
When you realise what was the problem and the world domination failed, you will definitely want to reread the book!
The book does not have much of a story, but it is full of wonderful little details in the illustrations. Some of them hilarious.
When you realise what was the problem and the world domination failed, you will definitely want to reread the book!
April 3, 2022
Weasels plot to take over the world in this amusing picture-book romp from British author/artist Elys Dolan, imbibing lots of coffee along the way! When their massive machine breaks down, just as the countdown to world domination is getting going, all is chaos as the weasels kick into gear, running here and there, and trying in their disorganized way to find the problem. The solution is far simpler than any one of them imagined, however...
The first book I have read from Elys Dolan, I certainly hope that Weasels will not be the last! It really was quite entertaining, with the rather simple main narrative considerably enlivened by all of the dialogue amongst the musteline characters. Young children will enjoy the madcap sense of humor on display here, and will appreciate the colorful and quirky illustrations. The solution to the eponymous weasels' problem provides a particularly amusing touch. Recommended to anyone looking for humorous picture-book adventures, particularly those featuring coffee-obsessed weasels...
The first book I have read from Elys Dolan, I certainly hope that Weasels will not be the last! It really was quite entertaining, with the rather simple main narrative considerably enlivened by all of the dialogue amongst the musteline characters. Young children will enjoy the madcap sense of humor on display here, and will appreciate the colorful and quirky illustrations. The solution to the eponymous weasels' problem provides a particularly amusing touch. Recommended to anyone looking for humorous picture-book adventures, particularly those featuring coffee-obsessed weasels...
March 28, 2017
Sometimes the simplest things get in the way of plans for world domination. This fun picture book has cute and lovely art, and getting insight into the minds of weasels is an added bonus. What did you think they did all day?
February 21, 2014
Absolutely hysterical!
Weasels are planning to take over the world. Don't fall for their cute little act.
They may seem harmless, but behind that cute little face the gears are always turning. WEASELS takes you inside the weasel lair so you can see their organization for yourself. With a lot of coffee and a lot of big machines, the weasels are set to let loose their plan on the world. But, will they be able to succeed after they suffer a major machine failure?
Cartoons fill each and every page spread and an observant eye will be able to solve the mystery of the computer malfunction before the other weasels figure it out. There are many laugh out loud funny moments in this short little book.
Weasels are planning to take over the world. Don't fall for their cute little act.
They may seem harmless, but behind that cute little face the gears are always turning. WEASELS takes you inside the weasel lair so you can see their organization for yourself. With a lot of coffee and a lot of big machines, the weasels are set to let loose their plan on the world. But, will they be able to succeed after they suffer a major machine failure?
Cartoons fill each and every page spread and an observant eye will be able to solve the mystery of the computer malfunction before the other weasels figure it out. There are many laugh out loud funny moments in this short little book.
September 10, 2016
This is a super fun and funny picture book. What's not to like about coffee-loving weasels bent on world domination? The only problem is their world-domination Machine goes on the fritz and they must figure out how to fix it. The coffee-bearinig weasel is both the culprit and the hero in this excellent book whose motto is "Megalomania Has Never Been So Furry."
March 19, 2020
I think I'm gonna have to buy this. Checking Amazon right now. Lovely artwork and silly weasels.
May 16, 2014
Weasels – what do they do all day? Eat nuts and berries? Frolic in leaves? Lurk in the dark? Argue with squirrels? Hide in their weasel holes? Well, all these are wrong. What they really do is...plot world domination.
Oh. My. God.
This book is HILARIOUS. These megalomaniac weasels are freaking AMAZING.
"Don't worry. We can solve this with SCIENCE! To the LABORATORY!"
I could read this one over and over and over again. I want to buy it for everyone. EVERYONE.
(Click to see this enlarged. You need to see it enlarged. )
"I'm entirely confident that this huge drill will fix everything."
I'm pretty sure Weasel with Huge Drill is my new favorite fictional character.
"Put that down!"
"No. Without this drill, I am nothing."
I think I need to own this for myself. I have no children. I have no excuse to be purchasing picture books. Except that this one is JUST SO GOOD.
In the twenty minutes it took me to read this book, I became one of Elys Dolan's biggest fans. I need weasel merch, and I need it now.
Basically: READ IT.
Oh. My. God.
This book is HILARIOUS. These megalomaniac weasels are freaking AMAZING.
"Don't worry. We can solve this with SCIENCE! To the LABORATORY!"
I could read this one over and over and over again. I want to buy it for everyone. EVERYONE.
(Click to see this enlarged. You need to see it enlarged. )
"I'm entirely confident that this huge drill will fix everything."
I'm pretty sure Weasel with Huge Drill is my new favorite fictional character.
"Put that down!"
"No. Without this drill, I am nothing."
I think I need to own this for myself. I have no children. I have no excuse to be purchasing picture books. Except that this one is JUST SO GOOD.
In the twenty minutes it took me to read this book, I became one of Elys Dolan's biggest fans. I need weasel merch, and I need it now.
Basically: READ IT.
February 27, 2014
Weasels took over the world so effectively that I didn't even feel the need to question their motivation.
Despite finding this book at the entrance to the Children's section in the book store, I feel like this is one for the adults. Children will appreciate the fun of the pictures- like the electrocuted weasel and the lights going out on everyone, but all the best jokes I feel are aimed at the parent reading to them.
The weasel who felt incomplete without his drill was my favourite, but there was much hilarity to be found with the Health and Safety weasel (who stopped most of them in their tracks, because you just can't go against health and safety) and the ongoing jokes about the coffee machine and the frappachinos were brilliant.
I think I would have preferred the placement of the text to flow a little better, it was hard to know which order to read in on several pages, and this made me wary of missing some of the humour. Also, I was rather disappointed when the lights went out that the photo of the weasel mum on the wall didnt turn out to be glow in the dark.
However, there was a suitably killer ending, and I would read this again.
Despite finding this book at the entrance to the Children's section in the book store, I feel like this is one for the adults. Children will appreciate the fun of the pictures- like the electrocuted weasel and the lights going out on everyone, but all the best jokes I feel are aimed at the parent reading to them.
The weasel who felt incomplete without his drill was my favourite, but there was much hilarity to be found with the Health and Safety weasel (who stopped most of them in their tracks, because you just can't go against health and safety) and the ongoing jokes about the coffee machine and the frappachinos were brilliant.
I think I would have preferred the placement of the text to flow a little better, it was hard to know which order to read in on several pages, and this made me wary of missing some of the humour. Also, I was rather disappointed when the lights went out that the photo of the weasel mum on the wall didnt turn out to be glow in the dark.
However, there was a suitably killer ending, and I would read this again.
March 3, 2014
Frothuccino.
June 4, 2018
Great book. I think children would find this very humorous. I like how the main plot is in big writing and can be seen at either top or bottom of the pages, however, there are also many other plots within each page through the speech bubbles. I think this gives children a lot to look at. I would recommend this book to children, it found it very funny and made me smile.
July 22, 2017
Cute book about the problems weasels encounter when working at world domination. There are adorable illustrations of the crazy complicated weasel compound populated by tons of weasels all up to different tasks. Full of details and lots of fun!
April 27, 2018
3.5 stars
March 18, 2017
The saga of drill-weasel and health-and-safety-weasel truly speak to my heart.
March 6, 2017
My favorite part was that the weasels were coffee addicts...I can relate.
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February 23, 2017Weasels.... what do they do all day? Eat nuts and berries? NO. Frolic in the leaves? NO. Plot world domination, of course. I KNEW it! Fun illustrations and very silly. – Lisanne E.
March 12, 2014
I loved this one. It is worth spending time with this one, focusing on the illustrations, following it along from cover to cover. If you do, you'll see that these weasels have personalities. The basic story is simple: the weasels have worked very hard, they are getting ready for the big countdown, they think their moment is at least here, and, then, they discover something is horribly wrong: the machine is BROKEN. Can this plot to take over the world be saved? Can the weasels work together to find out WHY the machine is broken? Can they fix it? This one has plenty of text. There is the main text of the narrator, and then the weasels' dialogue among one another. Added to the stories told through illustrations alone, and, readers are in for a fun treat. It may take more than a quick read to appreciate everything. This one may work best reading one-on-one with a child rather than in a group setting. Also this one may be a picture book older readers (independent readers) pick up. I think it's fun for many different ages--adults included.
March 27, 2014
This book had me laughing out loud (in the middle of silent reading time) in class! A humorous take on what weasels actually do all day - plot to take over the world (who knew?!). The secret lair, the man in charge, the underling only concerned about coffee, the one who discovers the obvious...all tropes that work in this story. These intelligent weasels are hilarious (even if they don't mean to be), but miss some of the details in their distractions. The complex illustrations needs a closer look beyond just reading the big words of the text - the wittiness of some of the comments that might be overlooked should not be missed; that's where most of the hysterical humor comes in. I think adults might appreciate the jokes in here more than kids at some points.
May 7, 2014
Have I mentioned how much I love Weasels? I love Weasels. LOVE IT. It is funny. I never did wonder what weasels do when we're not looking, but if you'd asked me to guess, I imagine "arguing with squirrels" would have been among my first guesses, and "plotting to take over the world" wouldn't come to mind until way after, I don't know, shopping at Ricky's for shampoo.
My sons love Weasels too. I even just love SAYING "weasels." Weasel weasel weasel.
WEASEL WEASEL WEASEL!
My sons love Weasels too. I even just love SAYING "weasels." Weasel weasel weasel.
WEASEL WEASEL WEASEL!
May 28, 2015
Story about weasels seeking world domination. By the looks of it, these weasels have been successful at dominating the book. So many weasels, so many speech bubbles making it too busy for my taste. However, the picture book is quite humorous when you spend the time to look at the illustrations and its details. In the story the technical difficulties in the control room cause chaos and the problem is solved with a comedic punchline. Weasels is visually entertaining.
December 17, 2015
This is the greatest book. There's not really a story - the weasels are attempting world domination but their machine is broken, so they're trying to fix it. The great part is how detailed and hilarious all the illustrations are...I barely even read the actual narrative, I was too busy following the saga of the coffee-obsessed (they drink Starweasels Coffee) and seeing how weasels like to waste time at work (napping and playing World of Woodcraft).
October 29, 2014
This was a delightful big picture book about weasels and (attempted) world domination. If that's not enough of a selling point, there are fun little details in the illustrations and the weasels have personalities. Perfect meandering read-aloud book for parents and kids to do voices, giggle together, and have a lot of fun.
May 13, 2014
Off-the-wall fun for independent readers who have the patience (and sense of humor) to track the hilarious details in the busy, speech-bubble-filled illustrations.
The cover blurb reads "megalomania has never been so furry!" And that's pretty much all you need to know.
The cover blurb reads "megalomania has never been so furry!" And that's pretty much all you need to know.
January 25, 2015
This book was totally awesome! I laughed, I cried, I loved the weasels, I loved the coffee, I loved the health and safety inspector. Weasels rock. I may not think so once they really take over the world, though.
March 11, 2014
Hilarious! Who knew weasels were trying to take over the world? Intricate illustrations hide clever asides and character actions you might miss on a first read. Kids will love it.
April 24, 2014
As a former Computer Technician and a coffee fanatic...this book touched my core!
August 14, 2016
Very fun book! The pictures are so detailed, a lot to see. Too much for a storytime, perhaps, but great for reading one on one and really looking at the pictures. :)
January 17, 2015
It's a truth universally acknowledged that the very word weasel makes everything funnier. This is definitely true in "Weasels" by Elys Dolan. If you're a fan of silly and weird, check out this book.
November 27, 2016
Weasels bent on world domination?
Too bad their World Domination Machine broke. ;)
Each page is full of hilarious antics that kids and adults will enjoy.
Too bad their World Domination Machine broke. ;)
Each page is full of hilarious antics that kids and adults will enjoy.
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