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Alter, Anna
9 Reviews
(3)
1-3
Sprout Street Neighbors series.
In this third installment, the six animal friends from 24 Sprout Street decide to visit Paris together. The homebodies need encouraging; the impetuous need reining in; but eventually everyone has an unforgettable time. The stories are offbeat, and while the setting may be unfamiliar, the mutual support and love among the friends will keep young readers grounded. Includes a glossary of French words and phrases.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(3)
1-3
Sprout Street Neighbors series.
In this second installment, Mili moves into the all-animal apartment building. Violet worries that Mili might be a better artist than she is, but they soon form a mutual admiration society; Mili makes another friend after she helps Wilbur find his missing fortune-cookie fortune. Six brief chapters full of homey illustrations and realistic emotions follow Mili's adjustment to her new home.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(3)
1-3
Sprout Street Neighbors series.
Five animal friends live in the same apartment building. Whenever one has a problem, the others come to his or her rescue. For instance, when Fernando decides to follow his dream of becoming a dancer, Violet gives him encouragement; when Violet's roof leaks, Wilbur calls the plumber. The stories are sweet and gentle, and the frequent pencil illustrations help differentiate the characters.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(4)
K-3
Bunny Greta misses Dad when he is working as a professional photographer. She wants to be the one in front of his camera so she mimics his famous subjects using her costume collection. In a flat ending, Dad finally focuses on Greta. The warm story is illustrated with simply composed acrylic paintings.
Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky
(3)
K-3
Shy cat Desmond always purposely blends into the background at school. But a new student keeps spotting him ("Hi, Desmond!"), and a friendship blooms alongside his confidence. Like Kevin Henkes, the note-perfect Alter doesn't need to use abstract words like shy and confident to make her point. Readers will delight in watching Desmond try to disappear into the unassuming scenery.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(3)
K-3
"The waves came in creeping, / stealing and sweeping-- / they snatched Sarah's flip-flop, / and took it away!" What to do with the other flip-flop? Make it into a craft stamp. This book invitingly encourages children to go green by repurposing old items. Friendly animals, shown in appealing acrylic illustrations, demonstrate creative craft projects with an emphasis on reuse.
Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo
(3)
K-3
Bird Abigail and George, a bear, are best friends. Each encourages and enjoys the other's interests: Abigail tells stories, George paints and plays maracas. Abigail, who also loves to spell, freezes up during the school spelling bee, and it takes her best friend to cheer her up--by telling her a story. Alter's gentle tale is ably assisted by her warm illustrations.
Reviewer: Amy Kellman
(4)
PS
Francine the fox does not want to get up or go to school or paint a picture. But the day has begun, the school bus arrives, and her teacher hands her a brush. By bedtime, she is too busy reciting the poem she didn't want to recite and singing the song she didn't want to sing to go to bed. The animals in the pastel-colored illustrations are somewhat hard to identify in this quiet story about a grumpy day.
Reviewer: Patricia Riley
(3)
PS
"'Lucy always wants to do what I'm doing,' says Estelle." The young cat's concern echoes a child's resistance to letting a friend or younger sibling engage in the same activity. Mother Cat's gentle solution--a picnic for the three of them--eases the tension between Estelle and Lucy the mouse. Color illustrations are suffused with pen-and-ink crosshatched detail.
Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty
9 reviews
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