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OH MY GOSH, MRS. MCNOSH!

Name: OH MY GOSH, MRS. MCNOSH!
Author: Sarah Weeks
ISBN: 0-694-01204-1

by Sarah Weeks & illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2002

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In the third installment of the Mrs. McNosh series (Mrs. McNosh and the Great Big Squash, 2000, etc.), the titular heroine encounters a series of surprises when her dog, George, chases a squirrel through the park. The action begins when George breaks free from his leash: “Her dog saw a squirrel and started to bark. / ‘Stop barking! Stop pulling!’ said Nelly McNosh. / But George wouldn’t listen, and so—.” The refrain, “Oh, my gosh!” is introduced on the next page as Westcott’s energetic watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations, crisply outlined in fine black pen, depict the trio dashing through the grass. When George chases the squirrel across a pond by jumping in a boat (“He dove and he wove right past Mrs. McNosh. / ‘I’ll catch you!’ Cried Nelly. But then—/ Oh, my gosh!”) the phrase comes up again, prompting readers to predict the outcome. In this case, Mrs. McNosh does a belly flop and nabs not the dog but “a big trout” instead. Throughout, Westcott effectively conveys the mayhem through cause-and-effect scenes; certain details, such as the catastrophic close-ups of Mrs. McNosh and George’s rear end peeking out from the corner of the page, communicate the futility of the frenetic chase. Having finally admitted defeat, Mrs. McNosh gets the biggest surprise of all when she heads home: George greets her at the door with her slippers in his mouth. “Oh, my gosh!” cries Mrs. McNosh. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: May 1, 2002

ISBN: 0-694-01204-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2002

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
SKETTY AND MEATBALL
by Sarah Weeks ; illustrated by Alex Willmore

- BOOK REVIEW
LIZZY MCTIZZY AND THE BUSY DIZZY DAY
by Sarah Weeks ; illustrated by Lee Wildish

- BOOK REVIEW
SOOF
by Sarah Weeks

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BEARS AND BOOS

From the Bears on Chairs series

by Shirley Parenteau ; illustrated by David Walker ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 14, 2020

Enjoyable holiday fare for the littlest trick-or-treaters.

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Does the box of Halloween costumes contain enough to clothe a passel of bears?

There’s a lot inside that carton: “hats, capes, and bats,” for example, and much more besides. And here come the four excited little bears, eager to comb through the contents to find the right trick-or-treat get-ups. At first, they find just what they want. Then, they simultaneously shout and pull at one another’s pickings as well, each desperately needing what another one has. The hubbub causes poor little Floppy to fall on her rear, so she tells Big Brown Bear she’ll wait until the others are done. Unfortunately, by the time everyone else has grabbed their stash, there’s nothing left in the box but a crumpled-up sash. Contrite, all the other bears willingly share their largesse with Floppy, turning her into the “holiday queen.” She leads the parade outdoors, all the bears dressed in their Halloween finest. This latest in Parenteau and Walker’s Bears on Chairs series is a sweet, brief rhyming tale for very young children that emphasizes kindness and sharing—a fine message for Halloween or any time. The lilting verses move smoothly and rhythmically and express a familiar scenario. The colorful, expressive illustrations are endearing; minimal text and lots of white space per page focus attention on the characters and goings-on.

Enjoyable holiday fare for the littlest trick-or-treaters. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: July 14, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-5362-0837-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BEARS AT THE BEACH
by Shirley Parenteau ; illustrated by David Walker

- BOOK REVIEW
BEARS AND BLOSSOMS
by Shirley Parenteau ; illustrated by David Walker

- BOOK REVIEW
DOLLS OF WAR
by Shirley Parenteau

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ROY DIGS DIRT

by David Shannon ; illustrated by David Shannon ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 7, 2020

Here’s the dirt on this one: Kids will dig it.

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Roy the dog seriously digs dirt.

Who can blame him? Sitting, rolling around, and lying in dirt make him happy because dirt is so deliciously…well, dirty, and Roy loves being dirty. Eating, sniffing, watching, and listening to dirt are fantastic. Roy likes burying and unearthing cool, fun stuff in dirt, including some crawly critters and an imaginary friend, likewise named Roy. Surprisingly, there are things Roy doesn’t dig about dirt, though: ants and mud. You see, rain makes mud, or “dirt gravy.” Mud by itself is terrific; unfortunately, mud plus Roy equals very dreaded baths. Roy. Doesn’t. Dig. Baths. What does Roy dig when there’s no dirt around? Rugs, blankets, and newspapers suffice until he enters the jungle that is the backyard. Sadly, encounters with smelly trespassers could occur there, and—yep—baths might ensue! Still, all is well for Roy as he awakens each morning to a day filled with new dirty adventures. This is a rollicking story that will especially resonate with readers who are unapologetically messy. They’ll revel in the delights of wallowing in grunge and may themselves sympathize with a bath-averse protagonist. Shannon’s illustrations are comically energetic, and Roy’s expressions are hilariously wild-eyed, tongue-lolling, and frenzied. Roy’s white coat helps keep the focus on dirty patches.

Here’s the dirt on this one: Kids will dig it. (Picture book. 3-6)