A story for all ages from the author of the #1 bestselling Born a Crime
“But sooner or later your mother will find us,” Walter said, looking back at the house. “She always does.”
The boy’s eyes lit up again. He had an idea.
“Then this time we need to go where we’ve never gone before,” he said. “Into the uncut grass!”
In the tradition of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse comes a gorgeously illustrated fable about a young child’s journey into the world beyond the shadow of home, a magical landscape where he discovers the secrets of sharing, connection, and finding peace with the people we love. Infused with the author’s signature wit and imagination, in collaboration with visionary artist Sabina Hahn, it’s a tale for readers of all ages—to be read aloud or read alone.
Trevor Noah is one of the most successful comedians in the world and was the host of the Emmy® Award-winning “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central for seven years. Under Trevor, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” broke free from the restraints of a 30-minute linear show, producing engaging social content, award-winning digital series, podcasts and more for its global audience. Last year, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” landed a record number of seven Emmy Award nominations.
Trevor is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” and its young readers adaptation, released in 2019, “It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood,” which also debuted as a New York Times bestseller. The Audible edition of “Born a Crime,” performed by Trevor, was produced by Audible and remains one of the top-selling, highest-rated, and most-commented-on Audible performances of all time. To date, “Born a Crime” has sold over 3 million copies across all formats.
On Oct. 8th, readers saw the release of one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2024: “Into the Uncut Grass,” written by Trevor Noah and illustrated by Sabina Hahn.
With his latest release, Noah tried his hand at crafting a fable – quite the departure from his 2016 #1 New York Times bestselling memoir: “Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood.” Noah did not disappoint; I was justified in my excitement for this book release, as it was everything I had hoped for and Noah did not disappoint.
"Into the Uncut Grass" follows a young boy and his sleepy, waffle-loving bear named Walter as they go on an imaginative adventure far away from the rules and chores of the house. The young boy and Walter encounter a series of characters that each, in turn, offer them some valuable life lessons. For example, a pair of snails teaches them the power of trying somebody else’s way and taking their perspective and anthropomorphic coins offer them wisdom into “the beauty of life” about making choices.
In the vein of "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesy and "The Little Prince" by Antione de Saint-Exupéry, "Into the Uncut Grass" is written for the kid in all of us. Noah notes in the introduction that “[the book] is a picture book, but it’s not a children’s book.” While youthful in appearance, the messages that are strewn throughout the book are deep and universal. Readers of all ages can appreciate and connect with different aspects of Noah’s work. It makes a great gift book to keep in mind when you are looking for something new and thoughtful to give a loved one.
Hahn’s colorful illustrations are simplistic and cute, but add a great deal value to the book, offering imaginative stills that capture the essence of a child’s curiosity. I could not help but be swept up in the whimsical nostalgia that came over me as I remembered what it was like to go exploring in my backyard, trusty stuffed bear in hand.
The book encourages us all to explore the ‘uncut grass’ in our own lives,. The uncut grass, the area that is not traversed, is understanding. We as a society need to practice understanding and tolerance of others viewpoints. ‘Into the Uncut Grass’ really emphasizes this point and could not have been released at a more pivotal time. As a talking garden gnome reminds readers, “Every person is just an obstacle unless you try to understand them.”
Noah writes that the book was inspired by conflict, I find this interesting because it acts as a bandage to the wounds of conflict, reminding readers that it is okay to be curious (yes, even as a “grown-up”) and that it is more than okay to explore beyond what you are used to and see the world through another point of view.
Heartfelt and thought-provoking, ‘Into the Uncut Grass’ is a hidden gem of a book and is enjoyable for readers of all ages. Noah certainly did not disappoint me with this publication and I have a feeling it will be one of my favorite reads of 2024.
This was, unfortunately a huge disappointment for me.
The writing was a bit amateur, and the 'adventure' in itself was kind of boring. I think there were lessons to be learnt - particularly in regards to conflict resolution - but the book ended too abruptly for those lessons to sink in. I think the idea of seeing things from someone else's point of view is a good one, but we never truly see the character learn that lesson.
Ultimately, this felt a bit unresolved and unsatisfying.
Thank you Penguin Random House for sending me a copy of this adorable book! 📖
"But sooner or later your mother will find us," Walter said, looking back at the house. "She always does." The boy's eyes lit up again. He had an idea. "Then this time we need to go where we've never gone before," he said. "Into the uncut grass!" 🌾
In the tradition of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse comes a gorgeously illustrated fable about a young child's journey into the world beyond the shadow of home, a magical landscape where he discovers the secrets of sharing, connection, and finding peace with the people we love.🧸
It’s a tale for readers of all ages and I’ll be honest, this cute book made me wanna be a mom so bad. I can’t wait to read books like this to my child hahaha 🤱🏻📖🤍
This is a delightful book about the friendship between a boy and his teddy bear, about making choices and living with the results of the choices made — and about returning home.
This was my most anticipated book of the year. I love Trevor, but I did not love this book. I was lucky enough to get both the audio and ebook from the library. Trevor, of course, does a great job narrating.
Listed on a Random House Book Club email. I read "Born A Crime" because of a Read Globally, Act Locally, book club; it was a book (regretably) I wouldn't have otherwise picked up; won't make the mistake with this book by Trevor Noah.
-- For me, this was a slow start, even for a 'picture book' This book is about family, it's mostly about communication and listening, Communication and listening....
Noah’s picture book is a very relatable, personal and delightful story that really has strong “Winnie the Pooh” vibes. We follow a boy and his toy bear deciding to run away from home when he’s tired of following his mom’s rules, and along the journey they find some creatures with similar issues.
It’s a wonderful story that reminds us of how we didn’t like to follow rules when we were little, but we will always have a home. Hahn’s colorful watercolor scribbles are also simple and quite vivid. Sometimes it’s nice to have a friend with you, whether you agree it them or not. Fuzzy and cuddly 🐻. A- (91%/Excellent)
For adults or for kids? I say kids, but a little clunky for a kids book, with the introduction, a little simple for adults in the short story part. I picked this up because it looked like The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, and it is similar but it is a little less universally applicable. I should probably read Born a Crime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"This is a picture book, but it's not a children's book." It's an illustrated chapter book - an all ages fable. It’s filled with Trevor Noah's wit and humour and Sabina Hahn's whimsical illustrations of a boy (who looks like a young Trevor Noah) and his teddy bear ... and waffles and snails. It's "a book about that undiscovered country just beyond the shadow of home, and the lessons we learn in that unpredictable landscape." Lessons in being curious, listening and resolving conflict. If you liked "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse", and really, who didn't?!, you'll like "Into the Uncut Grass".
Although written as a children's book, this short story gives a lot of insight into the author, when the authors note in the beginning is taken into account.
This was an adorable book to listen to. I love Trevor Noah’s voice, so soothing. I do feel like I need to find a physical book so I can see the drawings as well. ❤️
Maybe I’m biased because I am a big fan of Trevor Noah, but also a lot of my current work has to do with imagination. As someone who is going through life transitions, this was actually timely. It was reminder for me that I can imagine my wildest dreams, take risks, but also recognize that “home” will always be there for me when and if I need it.
A great start for me as I am coming back to reading for myself after a few years in this doctoral program. Highly recommend for inspiration.
The boy and his stuffed animal William don’t like the house’s rules, exactly since Saturdays are for exploring! They venture beyond their yard into the uncut grass where they encounter a gnome, two snails and some coins. They learn important lessons along the way but ultimately that you can always return home. Loved it!
In the tradition of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, "Into the Uncut Grass" is a fable for all ages. It follows a young boy and his teddy bear as they explore the world outside the boundaries of their home (i.e. the front gate) to escape the mundane world of chores and rules. Throughout their adventure where they meet a garden gnome, have a conversation with a pair of snails, and talk to some coins, they learn valuable life lessons such as taking a moment to experience life from someone else's perspective or “every person is just an obstacle unless you try to understand them.” The artwork throughout the book is simple, yet very beautiful, and helps enhance the overall story. The soft, watercolor drawings bring a sense of childhood nostalgia and whimsy.
Into the Uncut Grass is a beautiful little picture book with a heartfelt message. This book is for people of all ages and would make a great gift. If you're a fan of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse or The Little Prince, then you would probably enjoy this book as well.
Such a lovely little book about a young boy and his teddy bear off on an adventure. The little boy finds other travellers along the way who help him understand the necessity of rules (like making your bed). I really enjoyed this.
*** Looking at all the negative reviews on this makes me wonder if people read it as an adult or viewed it thru the eyes of a child.
A short book written with a huge message. Written by Trevor Noah who had a huge imagination as a child and at the same time disagreed with his mom nearly 100% of the time. This book is written for that. For kids, parent, adults , everyone.
I heard Trevor Noah speak last week. His book is as lovely as he is. This book is great to read aloud to your elementary aged kids, to give as a gift to anyone of any age (including 20-35 year olds that could use a gentle communication nudge) and is truly delightful. While it looks like a children’s book because of the pictures, which are beautiful, it is an any age book that quietly teaches about conflict resolution. The author said he wrote it because no one teaches you those skills. Highly recommend.
A short yet thought provoking read that blends humour with deeper insights. Noah, as usual, excels at weaving personal stories with larger societal reflections, offering a fresh perspective on life’s challenges. The writing is engaging, witty, and deeply reflective, making it a must read for fans of his storytelling style!
What a wonderful, beautiful book. One for all ages. I bought a copy for my very young grandson and I look forward to his parents reading it and reading to him when he gets older. I thoroughly enjoyed the message, the illustrations and the introduction that explains where this book came from.