"A crackerjack salute to the creations of the mind. (Picture book. 3-5)"
Who makes those clouds in the sky, anyway? Writer Becker and Pixar art director and story conceptualist Klocek are pretty sure it's a bunch of kids.
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"Team Becker and Denton has again succeeded in creating a book that keeps the attention of young readers and makes them smile. (Picture book. 3-6)"
In a series of scenes both silly and gently humorous, the ever persistent Mouse works hard to persuade gruff-but-lovable bear to become a library user.
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"Amid the plethora of hyperinteractive apps available for this age group, the barely-there animations are underwhelming even for toddlers, but the charm of the original book remains intact. (iPad storybook app. 2-4)"
A very minimally interactive app for preschoolers uses familiar animals and bugs to explore the sense of touch.
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"Ms Plum has some real teaching magic up her sleeve, and teachers who read aloud to their classes will want to begin or end their years with this one. (Fantasy. 7-11)"
Magic and common sense mix to create a wonderful year for Ms Plum, who could be Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's granddaughter, and her third graders.
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"Meanwhile, the energetic ink-and-watercolor illustrations brim with humor while firmly establishing Mouse and Bear as friends new readers will enjoy visiting time and again. (Early reader. 6-8)"
Fans of the 2008 picture book A Visitor for Bear will delight in this second offering from Becker and Denton about curmudgeonly Bear and his intrepidly friendly—not to mention "small and gray and bright-eyed"—visitor, Mouse.
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"The message that creativity should be valued and nourished is a worthy one, but given the utter lack of child appeal, it's unlikely many readers will get that message here. (Fiction. 8-10)"
An earnest message is weighed down by a predictable plot and flat characterization.
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"Johnny's experience will have children, and their parents, nodding in recognition. (Picture book. 6-8)"
Becker taps into a universal experience with this sympathetic look at a child left to wait just a minute while Mom runs a quick side errand.
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"Despite the implausibility of the second half of the story, the text is clever and comical and kids should enjoy it, imperfections and all. (Fiction. 8-12)"
A flawed human child has to cope with a robotic brother who can do no wrong.
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"Illustrations of the fuzzy wool of a sheep, smudgy wings of a moth, and opalescent scales of a fish all appear enticingly tactile, due to Halpern's astute use of unusual paper in the collages."
Textured collages invite preschoolers to consider the sense of touch.
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