The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles

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Title:

The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles

Author:

Gyllenhaal, Jake, 1980- author.

Caruso, Greta, author.

Santat, Dan, illustrator.

Summary:

The art of Auntieology and Uncleology is a sacred craft, but ten-year-old Leo has an Uncle Mo--a clueless stationery supply salesman with good intentions--who just doesn't get it. Yet. The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles is a madcap, magical adventure into the heart of what it means to have an aunt or uncle--how we learn to keep each other close and how we find love in the simplest things. -- Provided by publisher.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm

Genre:

Picture books.

Subject Term:

Uncles -- Juvenile fiction.

Aunts -- Juvenile fiction.

Secret societies -- Juvenile fiction.

Author(s):

Caruso, Greta,

Santat, Dan,

Publisher:

Feiwel and Friends,

Publication Date:

2023

ISBN:

9781250776990

Publication Information:

New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2023.

Call Number:

P GYLLENHAAL

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003677724	New Picture Books	GYLLENHAAL	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

WARNING: This book is for aunts, uncles, nieces and/or nephews ONLY!

Let's face it, being an aunt or uncle is AWESOME. There are countless adventures to be had, from eating dessert before dinner to activities with the perfect amount of HDD - Healthy Dose of Danger. But that isn't all. In order to master the sacred art of Auntieology and Uncleology, you must be tested by a distinguished panel of nieces and nephews, as there are rules and regulations to follow. For instance: when is bedtime? 8 o'clock you say? WRONG!*

The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles is a madcap, magical adventure into the heart of what it means to have an aunt or uncle--how we learn to keep each other close and find love in the simplest things. Jake Gyllenhaal and Greta Caruso paint a goofy, loving portrait of one of the most important relationships in children's lives in this funny and heartfelt romp of a picture book with witty and inventive illustrations by award-winning illustrator Dan Santat. This is the perfect gift for the nice or nephew in anyone's life.

*If a parental unit is reading this, bedtime is DEFINITELY 8 o'clock sharp, aunts and uncles will not make any exceptions! (Okay, now that that's out of the way. . .Secret Society rules state it is ALWAYS exactly three minutes before the parental units get home. . .but that's just between us.)

Author Notes

Jake Gyllenhaal is an Academy Award- and Tony-nominated actor, producer, and, most importantly, uncle to Ramona and Gloria. He was born in Los Angeles and has been best friends with Greta Caruso (his coauthor) since they were kids.

Greta Caruso is the longtime niece of a small group of Hall-of-Famer aunts and uncles. (She is also an aspiring HoF aunt to Vincent.) A lifelong voracious reader-and entrepreneur and producer-Greta has loved writing this, her first book, with her best friend, Jake.

Dan Santat is the Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times -bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We There Yet?, and After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again. His artwork is also featured in numerous picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels, including Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta series. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and many, many pets.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 4--Leo and his uncle have a strained relationship. Leo is less than thrilled that Uncle Mo is babysitting while his mom is away. As soon as Uncle Mo picks Leo up at dance class, the list of onerous rules begins. As Leo is about to call Uncle Mo the "worst," their car plunges off the road and lands in the Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles. Met by the exemplary pair of Great-Aunt Gloria and Uncle Munkle Carbunkle, both of whom could star in an origin story in their own right, Mo is put through a series of challenges to prove his status as an uncle. He fails miserably as he really knows nothing about his nephew and has to undergo basic training to improve. Santat's illustrations extend the story with hilarity, absurdity, and tenderness. Leo and Uncle Mo connect, and a tight bond is formed. There are still lessons to be learned in "advanced courses'' and readers will hope for a sequel. VERDICT Nieces and nephews who read this book will never look at their aunts and uncles the same way again. A wonderful adventure to be enjoyed by all and a challenge to all adults to loosen up and enjoy the children around them.--John Scott

Publisher's Weekly Review

It's bad enough when Leo's glasses fly off during his beloved ballet class, causing a pileup up at the barre. Then Uncle Mo, the very picture of a stickler, shows up to babysit and rattles off a litany of rules, ending with a final coup de grace--"Bedtime is at 8 p.m. And no dessert tonight." Clearly the universe can't allow that to stand, and the two, portrayed with pale skin, are suddenly whisked into "the wonderful in-between," where the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles "preserves the ancient arts of Auntieology and Uncleology." A kid panel quickly deems Uncle Mo in need of Emergency Basic Training, during which he learns the ways of nibling connection: bedtime is "always three minutes before Mom and Dad get home," making sundaes counts as cooking, and a nephew is not a charge to be managed, but a real human being. In a double picture book debut, actor Gyllenhaal and entrepreneur Caruso expand on a winning premise that explains why aunts and uncles become the cool adult in so many children's lives. Caldecott Medalist Santat infuses the story with all the verve of a game show challenge, portraying the Secret Society's trainees, of various species and human skin tones, with oodles of comic drama. Ages 4--6. (Sept.)