ðə bˈʊk ɪz nˌɑːɾə tˈɪpɪkəl pˈɪktʃɚ bˈʊk ɪn ðætðə hjˈuːmɚɹ ɪn ɪt tˈɛndz təbi slˈaɪtli dˈɑːɹk ænd sɑːɹkˈæstɪk, æz ɪnðə wˈɜːks ʌv dʒˈɑːn sˈiːszkə.
The book is not a typical picture book in that the humor in it tends to be slightly dark and sarcastic, as in the works of Jon Scieszka.