Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Winfield's middle grade novel is perfect for any reader that gets a kick out of potty humor. Winfield's target audience will enjoy AB/Agent Big Butt's dedication to kindness and the wide variety of adventures that he embarks on within his first few months of life. One potential downside, though, is the amount of plot points that are introduced in the novel, including the cliffhanger that sets up book two.
Prose: Winfield's novel is filled with vivid storytelling, making reading feel like watching a dynamic children's cartoon. However, sometimes the tonal shift from funny to serious is a bit like whiplash.
Originality: Though Winfield's novel integrates a few familiar motifs, Agent Big Butt, a character with the ability to release toxic farts and smash things with his enormous rear end, is undeniably unique.
Character/Execution: The character arc Winfield creates for AB is very fascinating, given that he knows how to talk and walk, but doesn't know what things mean, nor how to maintain friendships. Thus, the novel is filled with many amusing crash courses.
Date Submitted: July 30, 2023
"The Birth of Agent Big Butt: Butt of Steel, Heart of Gold by Amy Winfield, with brilliant illustrations by Tom McWeeney, is a hilarious and supremely original children's book about a baby who was born with an enormous rear end as hard as steel, as he takes on local robbers while outwitting a mad doctor. With wisdom and intelligence beyond his years, this heroic baby understands the deadly nature of his weapon and desires to use it for good - a hysterically ridiculous take on "With great power comes great responsibility." Lighthearted and funny throughout with a cheerful take on superhero narratives, this origin story will delight children and parents alike." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½
"Farcical romp meets superhero origin story in The Birth of Agent Big Butt by Amy Winfield, a whimsical ride that will have children laughing out loud. Yanked into the world with an exceptionally large backside, this precocious infant protagonist has the internal monologue of a wise-cracking adult, along with an arsenal of flatulence-fueled abilities that make him hilariously heroic. With a butt like a battering ram, and toots that can bring the house down, this bank robber-busting baby is the talk of the town, and the target of a sinister doctor who wants to turn him into a lab rat. Surreal, silly, and unpredictable, this kooky and clever tale is an incredibly fun beginning to an original series." The Independent Review of Books
