MARGO THINKS TWICE

When Margo’s mother expresses her worries, Margo takes her concerns to heart.

Brown-haired, light-skinned Margo seems to be a creative, adventurous child, but her vivid and rather extreme imagination leads her to exaggerate the possible repercussions of her mother’s warnings. Her mother reminds her to be careful not to get sticky while using glue for a project, so Margo immediately pictures herself sticking to everything in sight. She is ready to leap from her swing, but another warning has Margo seeing herself making a very rough landing. Playing jungle explorer in racks of clothing at a store leads to a fear of getting lost. A visit to a pet-adoption center triggers visions of wild, dangerous animals. But a sloppy kiss from a friendly dog brings everything into focus. They are ready to take their new dog home, where they know he will be a perfect fit for their messy, clumsy lives. The text might lead readers to believe that Margo’s mom is a hovering worrier, seeing danger everywhere. But the illustrations depict her as benign and calm, while Margo’s large, expressive brown eyes indicate her terror at every turn, not only thinking twice, but stopping in her tracks every time. Very young readers might be confused at the mixed messages, but the love between mother and daughter shines through, and older readers should grasp the conceit.

Warm and winning.