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Carlson, Nancy
32 Reviews
(3)
K-3
A girl explains the ways that people and animals experience vomiting ("Dogs act normal after they barf...But barfing is scary for a kid!") and the realities of upchucking at school ("everyone will go nuts!"). This is Everyone Poops for older kids and with Carlson's trademark unpretentious illustrations and hand-holding narration. Regarding her depiction of the book's subject: it doesn't look like confetti.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(4)
K-3
Armond, a boy with Asperger's syndrome, goes to Felicia's birthday party but is nervous about popping balloons, strong smells, and more. When the chaos is too much, Armond takes "a break" in a quiet room and then rejoins the party. Carlson's gentle, if purposeful, approach and childlike storyboard illustrations may help readers empathize with what Armond is experiencing. A note to adults is appended.
Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey
(4)
K-3
Daydreaming of adventures to Mars and the sea causes Sam to miss the bus and words on his spelling test. A doctor's suggestions on how Sam can improve his attention include avoiding junk food, staying organized, and getting enough sleep. While no mention is made of medication or therapy for ADHD, the basic advice and Carlson's child-friendly art make the book a good starting point.
Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey
(4)
K-3
Henry tells his teacher when Sam is unnecessarily mean on the playground, but later it is Henry's empathetic response to Sam that diffuses the conflict. While the easy resolution seems unlikely, the book makes the valid point that kids cannot always rely on adult intervention and need their own strategies to deal with bullies. Cheerful, expressive art accompanies the story.
Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey
(3)
K-3
In this self-help book for youngsters, Carlson describes ways to "make yourself happy." She divides her tips into categories such as "speaking up for yourself!" and "taking care of your body!" and suggests activities for each ("Go for a bike ride"). This well-meaning book, illustrated with Carlson's signature animals and bright colors and patterns, may prove useful to readers seeking emotional guidance.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(3)
K-3
Mouse Henry usually spends his five-dollar allowance right away, but when Super Robot Dude catches his eye, he resolves to start saving for the toy. Accumulating thirty dollars takes longer than he'd thought, what with one unexpected expense after another. Thanks to handy drawings at the top of the cheery childlike illustrations, readers can monitor the rise and fall (and rise) of Henry's fortunes.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(3)
K-3
When mouse Henry embroiders on the truth during show-and-tell, his classmates rebel, and one even calls him "a big fibber." Following his teacher's suggestion, Henry employs his imagination to write stories instead; soon he's entertaining everyone with his own books. Carlson makes her point with a light touch. Her childlike illustrations do a good job of portraying Henry's wild imaginings.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(3)
K-3
Curiosity about the beautifully wrapped Valentine's Day box on the edge of their teacher's desk leads Henry and his classmates to follow Mr. McCarthy throughout the course of the school day, to see if they can determine who might be the recipient of the candy. Carlson's signature humor (including a surprise ending) and childlike illustrations characterize this warm holiday story.
Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo
(4)
K-3
Familiar Carlson protagonist Henry the mouse has entered first grade. His friends are excited about reading, but Henry hates it. Or is it that he's having trouble? What unfolds seems plotted by numbers as, with practice, Henry grows to love reading. Still, Carlson's illustrations--bright and approachable with magic-marker-like outlines and shadings--are as friendly as ever.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(4)
K-3
It's hard to resist the toothy smile of Carlson's frog protagonist in this book about staying positive regardless of the challenges around you (e.g., being the new kid in school, doing badly on a test). The Spanish translation (uncredited) is somewhat leaden and literal, but the facial expressions of the bright green, red-eyed froggie will make most readers smile.
Reviewer: Tim Wadham
(3)
K-3
Rabbit George tries to avoid doing his chores by fobbing them off on his younger brothers. Naturally, the plan backfires, but the story is so full of zip and laughs that the "be responsible" message doesn't come across pedantically. The book's varied design and Carlson's bright, childlike illustrations more than ably match the story's pep.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(3)
K-3
As he tells his mom about his first day of first grade, nostalgic-for-kindergarten Henry realizes that lots of good things happened (e.g., he only knew two kids in class, but he made a new friend). Young audiences will find this latest entry just as cheerful and comforting (and colorfully illustrated) as the previous books about mouse Henry.
Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander
(4)
K-3
Louanne Pig and friends bravely cut through the witch lady's yard, but Louanne's pals abandon her when she falls and twists her ankle. The witch lady appears and lures her inside, where...it turns out she's not so scary after all. The story and illustrations are amiable but don't offer anything new.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
(3)
PS
In his third book, Henry the mouse and his kindergarten classmates busy themselves with a variety of activities, all the while counting up the days of school. On the one hundredth day, when children bring collections of one hundred things to the celebration, Henry brings his one hundred-year-old great-grandmother. Warm, vibrant illustrations give Henry's classroom a friendly, cheerful atmosphere.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(3)
K-3
Henry the mouse is too shy for show-and-tell until he brings his pet lizard, Wallace, to school. Wallace makes a break for freedom, and in the classroom brouhaha that follows, Henry completely forgets his nervousness. The story is accompanied by genial illustrations that help deliver the book's humorous ending: Henry's next show-and-tell subject, a spider, also escapes in the classroom.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(3)
K-3
Only child (well, pig) Louanne is envious of her friend George, who has nine siblings. But Louanne begins to appreciate her own small family after she spends a too-hectic weekend at George's house. Brightly colored illustrations of an increasingly overwhelmed Louanne enliven a familiar but perennially appealing story situation. This edition is slightly larger than the original.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(3)
K-3
When Harriet accidentally tramples her neighbor's prize flower garden and then runs away, she can't eat or sleep until she decides to confess and make amends. Carlson presents a common childhood plight simply and insightfully in a brief text and bold colored-pencil illustrations that clearly depict Harriet's dismay, guilt, remorse, and relief.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(3)
PS
Henry, a mouse, is excited about his first day of kindergarten--until he gets to the classroom door. After he looks around, though, he changes his mind and decides to stay. In this bilingual edition, Carlson's cheerfully illustrated story features an admirable Spanish translation.
Reviewer: Tim Wadham
(4)
K-3
Pig Louanne is intent on deducing who sent her a Valentine signed "Your secret admirer." She finally learns from a shop clerk that the card was purchased by "a big fellow with a curly tail," whom readers (versus Louanne) will plainly see is her dad. The premise is old hat, but Carlson's swift pacing and energetic art make up for it.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(3)
K-3
Dog Harriet's little brother, Walt, is a pest--he destroys a snowdrift tunnel, gets his tongue stuck on a flagpole--and she tells him so. But when Harriet's friend George says as much, she finds herself sticking up for the little guy. Carlson always delivers appealingly unfussy art and efficient plots. This offering has that and substance, too.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
32 reviews
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