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The Wall Street Journal:
“It’s a perfect book for revving up small helpers to pitch in with the shoveling.”
Kirkus Reviews (starred review):
“Charming and endearing.”
(Full review) “The smallest in a fleet of snowplows always gets picked last in a snowstorm, but he and his driver, Gus, show that teamwork and perseverance pay off. Artwork reminiscent of Virginia Burton's classics begins with a double-page spread of eight snowplows—eyes and eyebrows on their windshields—facing out in front of a tall fence. Lights gleam from town buildings with snowclad roofs, and large flakes of snow fill a darkening sky. The sixth plow from the left is the only one that is tiny and red, but the text simply mentions that the city plows are "ready to fight the snow." At the turn of the page, readers learn what they have probably suspected: all the big, yellow plows are always picked first. At last, Walt is cheerfully chosen by Gus—light-skinned, like the other men. There follows a sweet sequence that shows Gus carefully checking the little plow's readiness, and then off they go. The text is full of onomatopoeia, alliteration, and sudden rhymes as the pair salts roads and pushes through snow. "My name is Walt. / I plow and I salt" is a droll, easily remembered couplet that assumes additions and variations throughout. At the climax, the intrepid team ascends a steep hill—defying the intimidating plow Big Buck—and the expected end is magnified with a special treat from Gus to Walt. Charming and endearing: "ChuggaMmmm-hmmm!" (Picture book. 3-6)”
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Kirkus Reviews (starred review):
“Walt—a small but powerful, friendly-faced snowplow—continues to work with his driver, Gus. How can they help a green car that has gone off the road?
Fans of Small Walt (2017) will not be disappointed. Along with a new, simple-but-satisfying plot, a few new characters, and new, whimsical motor noises, the text includes the winning refrain readers will recall from their earlier encounter with the team: “We’re Gus and Walt. / We plow and we salt. / We clear the snow / so the cars can go!” This time, the pair is clearing a road “slick with ice” when they see a green car slide into a ditch. Walt is eager to scoop up the car, but Gus warns him to wait, as plows are for snow only. As Gus lends a hand to the green car’s driver, Walt hears the “brumm-brumm-humma-hum” of Mo the Tow. Sue—a “lady in blue”—steers Mo toward the green car to tow it. Snow has been falling steadily, and the green car’s owner sits in Gus’ cab to stay warm. Before the story ends, Walt and Gus must rumble into action to help Mo and Sue drive close enough to rescue the car. Special kudos for the gender-stereotype–defying scenes of Sue confidently hitching and driving Mo. Delightful, retro artwork and clever text offer another tribute to teamwork and friendship. Gus is depicted with pale skin and Sue and the green car’s driver with brown.
Three dynamic duos: Gus and Walt; Sue and Mo; Verdick and Rosenthal. (Picture book. 3-6)”
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I Must Have Bobo! has been selected as a New York Times Notable Children's Book of 2011.
New York Times:
"A melodramatic boy, Willy, and a cat, Earl, both lay claim to a sock monkey. With adorable illustrations and sharp but spare text."
Kirkus Reviews (starred review):
"Willy, the protagonist of this small domestic drama, is perfectly, appropriately self-absorbed, as he is barely out of toddlerhood and, as his monologue reveals, he relies on his sock monkey, Bobo, to help him negotiate the challenges of being so young. Bobo helps him, specifically, to confront dubious, possibly “bitey” bugs, go down the playground slide and walk past large dogs (friendly doggy smiles notwithstanding). Digitally colored and boldly lined pencil cartoons against cream-yellow background space put Willy and his feline housemate Earl (who has a marvelously blank, inscrutably entitled cat face) firmly in the forefront of the story. Earl likes Bobo, too! When Willy loses track of Bobo, his search grows anxious: Could Bobo have been stolen by pirates? Or…Earl? Small listeners may recognize themselves in the worn-out, napping boy, curled up with his arm around both Bobo and Earl—but some will also sympathize with Earl’s relentless, devoted recapturing of Bobo (clearly a shared prize in this household). Hilarious for adult readers; an exercise in self-recognition and empathy for the intended audience. "
New York Times Book Review:
“A sock monkey is the titular character in this tale of boy, cat and toy. Working with his wife, Eileen, who makes her picture book debut, Marc Rosenthal places hugely appealing retro-cartoon illustrations against a spare backdrop. As boy and cat tussle over Bobo, fundamental preschooler emotions—desire, fear, frustration, despair—will play for appreciative giggles.”
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The New York Times Book Review:
"I’ll Save You Bobo!, written by Eileen Rosenthal and illustrated by her husband, Marc Rosenthal, is the stand-alone sequel to I Must Have Bobo! in which the same three characters—Willy, a boy who looks as if he could be a cousin of Ludwig Bemelman’s Madeline, with his big round head and primary-colored outfits; Bobo the stuffed monkey; and Earl the mischievous cat—act out the drama of trying to live peaceably under one roof. In both books, Willy must fend off Earl and his furtive efforts to snatch the monkey. In “I’ll Save You Bobo!” Willy wrestles with his emotions, particularly his rage at Earl, by writing books about the three of them getting trapped in a jungle with poisonous mushrooms, menacing tigers and an enormous green snake that in the end eats guess-who for dinner? Yes, Earl. The story sets the world right for Willy—that is, until Earl absconds with Bobo again in real life."
Kirkus Reviews:
"Endearing and inviting."
Publishers Weekly (starred review):
"The war wages on! In this charming sequel to I Must Have Bobo! (2010), Willy and his pet cat, Earl, are still having trouble coexisting at home, and stuffed monkey Bobo is caught in the middle. All three characters fully inhabit their identities. Willy is emphatic and mercurial, excited about the jungle adventure he’s drawing (“And we have a tent!” he shouts gleefully) and irritated at Earl’s intrusions. Earl does as cats do, sometimes insisting on being in the middle of the action, at other times drifting into the background or tentatively exploring what Willy is up to. Bobo, inanimate, is just along for the ride. A joyful tribute to imagination and everyday domestic dramas."
School Library Journal (starred review):
"Poor Willy just wants to read a dinosaur book with his beloved toy monkey. But, as in I MUST Have Bobo (Atheneum, 2011), Earl the cat just won’t leave them alone. When the book proves disappointingly sedate, Willy takes matters into his own hands and decides to write his own jungle adventure–with lots of danger to save Bobo from. As he narrates their imaginary exploits, Earl pesters and tries to steal the toy. With clever problem-solving, Willy uses his story to express his anger and desire for retaliation against Earl. Imagining the feline being devoured by snakes provides catharsis for Willy, and though their relationship remains the same he feels empowered enough to accept Earl as he is. There is no pat ending. Kids will relate to having someone in their life who just plain bugs them–whether pet, sibling, cousin, or friend. The charming humor in the Sunday-funnies-style illustrations perfectly enhances the story, and the art (not to mention Willy’s feisty personality) is reminiscent of Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes” (Andrews McMeel). A first purchase."
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Kirkus:
“Willy—the small boy whose self-absorbed attachment to a household sock monkey is shared by Earl, the family cat—has grown into a more adventuresome fellow (I’ll Save You Bobo!, 2012, etc.). On an expedition outdoors, Willy boldly kicks at some “[p]oison mushrooms,” notices acorns and delicate flowers, lets a caterpillar crawl up his shirt, and finally launches Bobo, the sock monkey, into a small creek in a found vessel—a red pail. Too smart to venture far on the slippery rocks to rescue Bobo, who has sailed into the middle of the current, Willy returns home for the proper rescue turnout and reappears in bright rain gear, fishing pole at the ready to snag the bobbing bucket. Meanwhile, readers get to see Earl step delicately across the rocks to claim Bobo. The ever-watchful Earl stands in sweetly for a vigilant protector—not of Willy, but of Bobo, which lets Willy’s adventure seem quite independent. The story unfolds clearly through the illustrations, offering an opportunity for young listeners to return to retell the tale. The generous white space and bold lines of the illustrations, Earl’s expressive, scheming face, along with the nicely visual, slapstick punch line all invite very young readers to identify with Willy. Endearing as a slightly exaggerated solo adventure with a stuffed animal—but then there’s Earl, who adds a lovely dose of spice. (Picture book. 2-6)”
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A New York Times bestseller!
What do you do when you spot a wild Trump in the election season? New York Times bestselling author and comedian Michael Ian Black has some sage advice for children (and all the rest of us who are scratching our heads in disbelief) in this perfectly timely parody picture book intended for adults that would be hysterical if it wasn’t so true.
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Kirkus Reviews:
“An utterly splendid bit of storytelling that acts like a cross between My Father's Dragon and Curious George, with a little Babar thrown in for good measure. When a monkey named Archie accidentally washes up on the shores of a tropical island, it's not two minutes before he's found food and built himself a jaunty shelter. The island provides friends in the form of an ibis named Clarice and the tiger Beatrice. Unfortunately, cruel pirates (led by the deliciously named LaFaargh) soon come ashore and capture Beatrice. Using his monkey smarts, Archie outwits the nasty foes and all the local animals build homes by his side. Rosenthal's remarkable style has all the pizzazz of modern storytelling with the look and feel of old-time picture-book classics. Brightly hued watercolors repeat shades of orange, black and green, giving the book a lively feel. Bound to be a family favorite oft repeated, this is one swell book. (Picture book. 4-8)”
Publishers Weekly:
“The eponymous hero is a clever, courageous monkey who makes lemonade out of lemons (or the banana equivalent thereof) when he is marooned on a desert island. Archie quickly makes friends with his fellow animal inhabitants and then rallies them to fend off an invasion by a “rough and smelly” band of pirates, whose idea of cruel taunting is to stick out their tongues and grunt “HAR,” after capturing Archie's friend Beatrice, a tiger. With a retro design aesthetic and swashbuckling sense of adventure, Rosenthal (Phooey!) showcases a gift for knowing how to pace action—he lets readers savor the details of Archie's settling in, then hits the visual accelerator when the baddies appear. His text feels too literal at times, especially give the crispness and detail of his drawings—it can feel like he's giving directions rather than telling a story. But mostly he's great fun to read aloud (“Tons of rotten, squishy, smelly mangoes, kiwis, papayas, and bananas... rain down on the confused pirates”), his snappy, breathless style carrying just enough of a wink to flatter readers' nascent sense of irony. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)”
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Kirkus Reviews (starred review):
“A retro comic-strip style and a classic slapstick premise give rise to a side-splitting visual romp. “PHOOEY!” shouts a little boy (whose resemblance to Tintin is striking) as he kicks a tin can into the air. “Nothing ever happens around here!” The oblivious boy grouses his way through town as the kicked can sets off a chain of events that result in perfect chaos: In short order, an elephant has escaped from a zoo, barrels are rolling down the streets, pies are flying, umbrellas are poking ladies in the rear and so on—as the little boy continues his lament. Each perfectly paced page vibrates with energy, quick sequences leading to hilariously busy full-page spreads. Sound effects fill the page, “flumps,” “boinks,” “splooshes” and “poits” creating a visual cacophony and making the protagonist’s obtuseness even funnier. Any adherence to logical reality is happily abandoned to the series of gags, so one subplot involves skulking, peg-legged pirates. Sprinkled throughout are other homages to classics of yore—a man with a yellow hat and the Café Celeste details—that complement the sunny palette and gentle style. Priceless. (Picture book. 4-10)”
School Library Journal:
“Kindergarten-Grade 4—When he kicks an empty can of cat food from a lawn, a boy who repeats, "Nothing ever happens around here" triggers a chain reaction of mishaps that ultimately changes his mind about his neighborhood. The can hits a sleeping cat, who is chased by a dog through a town populated by pirates, a policeman, a zookeeper, cowboys, and a woman with a funny hat. The bored boy remains oblivious to the havoc that continues when an elephant, frightened by the chase, breaks free from the zoo. It sets loose a rolling barrel of kippered herring that hits a ladder and spills a painter's bucket, causing the baker's tray full of pies to go flying. The antics continue through the town, until the elephant halts abruptly to enjoy a lost bag of peanuts, sending the cat spiraling through the air and into the boy's arms. "This place is great!," the boy exclaims as the cuddly cat purrs next to his smiling face. Color cartoon drawings show the humorous progression of the chaotic events in a nearly wordless layout that balances detailed activity with white space so the eye can rest. Facial expressions and onomatopoeia add to the wackiness of the scenes. Best enjoyed one-on-one or with a small group, the book is sure to win over its audience. —Julie R. Ranelli, Kent Island Branch Library, Stevensville, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
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Booklist:
"With help from his trusty dog, Lightning, and his big yellow backhoe, Mr. Rally is ready for any digging job. Lively pictures and words follow him through a day of five separate assignments that give the story the added fun of a counting exercise. The simple, bouncy text, with a rhyming refrain that will encourage young children to chant along, describes Mr. Rally's progress from site to site, concluding with a surprise at the end of the day that finds Mr. Rally still doing what he loves best, even after turning in his backhoe. Rosenthal's illustrations, rendered in earthy greens and browns, feature stylized shapes and thick black outlines reminiscent of Wanda Gag's work. They extend the humor and activity with extra jokes: at each site, for example, Lightning finds a bone for his collection, which he buries with a wink at the story's end. Full of action and rhythm, this winning picture book, by a husband-and-wife team, will delight preschoolers who dream of their own big-engine, dirt-digging adventures." – Gillian Engberg
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Publishers Weekly:
“Eight charmingly eccentric robots demonstrate opposing words in this humorous lift-the-flap book. A robot with a pointy, steeple-like head gets 'wet' in the rain, but a flap shows that its headpiece doubles as an umbrella to keep it 'dry.' A cheeky finale (a copper robot shows off the "front" of Rosenthal's book to a crowd of robots while showing its "back" end to readers) caps this quirky exploration of opposites.”
School Library Journal:
“PreS-Gr 1—A simple yet effective title on the concept of opposites. A robot is shown on the right side with sturdy gatefolds that young readers can lift up to reveal another bot that is the opposite of the initial robot shown. Rosenthal's retro illustrations capture the playful tone of the robots and make this an easy sell to children. Many of the pairs are effective and dutifully highlight the adverse (with the quiet/loud pairing proving to be especially amusing). The endpapers, which show a rapt audience of robots, alludes to the last spread that will have children giggling. This title combines a topic that kids will devour (robots) with an essential learning concept. VERDICT A fun ride through the concept of opposites.” —Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library
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School Library Journal:
“PreS-Gr 3—Based on a true story, this tale introduces readers to Mogie, a dog who becomes an inspiration to children in a Ronald McDonald House. Gage and his family move to the house after the boy becomes sick. There are rules to help the children get better, including "no puppies!" In a nearby town, a litter of puppies is born. Two of them become service dogs, three train for Search-and-Rescue, and four are groomed for the show ring. Mogie, however, fails at each of these endeavors because he breaks all the rules. This is why he does so well at the Ronald McDonald House. He walks right in and meets Gage. Slowly, Mogie helps him feel better. The boy eventually gets to go home, but there are more children there for Mogie to help. This heartwarming story will satisfy animal lovers and anyone who enjoys a happy ending. The illustrations, rendered in pencil and charcoal, and digitally, complement the story. Mogie is adorable; it's no wonder that he has a positive affect on Gage and the other children. The book makes good use of negative space, and page layouts vary to keep visual interest. This title would work well as a read-aloud and as an excellent choice for independent reading.” —Emily E. Lazio, The Smithtown Special Library District, NY
Booklist:
“Mogie, a labradoodle with a trademarked name who lives at the Ronald McDonald House in Houston, has his story fictionally told by a Newbery Honor Book author and a cartoon-style illustrator. Into a “very special house” wanders this “ball-chasing, tail-wagging, moon-howling pup” who, while seemingly not cut out for other canine careers, bonds instantly with Gage, a representative blond-haired boy at the house who has lost his “mojo.” The two become fast friends, and once Gage finally recovers from his unstated illness and moves out, Mogie turns his affection to Antonia, who has lost her “cha-cha-cha.” The appended author’s note tells of Appelt’s own bonding with Mogie and his role at the Ronald McDonald House, the mission of which is only vaguely alluded to except for on the flap copy. The lightly colored pencil, charcoal, and digital drawings are appropriately upbeat, and admirers of working animal stories and simplified issue books, as well as dog lovers in general, will appreciate Mogie’s gently told and optimistic tale. Grades K-2.” –Andrew Medlar