Review - Poor Louie

Poor Louie
by Tony Fucile
Date: 2017
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Louie's life is great! A walk on the leash every morning, ice cream on Sundays, snuggling in bed at night with Mom and Dad. Even the playdates with Mom's friends despite their little crawling creatures who pull Louie's ears aren't all that bad. But then things get weird: cold food on the floor, no room in the bed, and lots of new stuff coming into the house in pairs: two small beds, two little sweaters, two seats in the stroller. Does that bode double trouble ahead, or could there be a happier surprise in store for Louie?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is adorable. I fell in love with Tony Fucile's work after reading the Bink & Gollie books, which he illustrated. Poor Louie is the story of a little dog who has a great life... until the impending arrival of a new sibling (or two?) makes Louie feel like he has no choice but to pack his things and run away.

This isn't the most original premise. I've seen other stories focussing on how pets feel when a new baby is brought into the household. But Louie has such a big personality that you get sucked right into his story. (It doesn't hurt that he narrates directly to the reader, forcing them to empathize with his plight.) The twist at the end is cute, and I didn't see it coming.

The illustrations here are wonderful. Fucile perfectly captures the dog's emotions in his facial expressions. Despite the fact that the backgrounds are monochromatic, the pictures aren't boring at all; the characters take centre stage, and you're able to focus on what's important to the story.

This is one of the most entertaining picture books I've read in a while. Children will enjoy it, of course... but their parents will probably also get a kick out of poor Louie's plight. I definitely recommend it.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.67 out of 5

Review - Mitchell's License

Mitchell's License
by Hallie Durand
illustrated by Tony Fucile
Date: 2011
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: hardcover
Source: library

Hop in for a hilarious, heartwarming ride with four-year-old Mitchell, a kid with a need for speed, a lead foot, and a very special license to drive.

Mitchell was four years, one month, and five days old when he got his license. He may need a little boost getting into the driver’s seat, but once he’s behind the wheel, his car sure goes fast! Left turn, right turn, slow down for speed bumps - Mitchell is a pro. And he loves the way that horn sounds! There’s just one problem: Mitchell and his car have a slight disagreement about what type of fuel should go into the tank.... With warmth and sly wit, Hallie Durand follows a young child obsessed with all things automobile, while Tony Fucile’s comical illustrations convey the well-tuned bond between an obliging father and a high-octane child.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Having just read another picture book about a high-energy kid that I didn't really enjoy, I went into this one with some trepidation. But, after all, this is illustrated by Tony Fucile... so how could I say no? The fact is, while Mitchell may be a bit of a nuisance to put to bed, he's not a bad kid. Watching his adventures in learning to drive his "car" is pretty fun.

The premise is apparently based on a game the author's children played with their dad. "Remote-Control Dad" is the game Mitchell and his father play here. Mitchell has to "drive" his dad around the house, and eventually into bed. It takes a while for Mitchell to get the hang of things (an early attempt results in a "crash"; kudos to Dad for playing along!), but when he does, it's smooth sailing. The only problem comes when it's time to refuel. The driver and the "car" have very different ideas about what constitutes appropriate "gas", and this results in an "emergency", complete with flashing lights, as the "car" puts his foot down. The interactions between father and son are really cute, while still showing that the parent is fully in charge of the situation (even if the kid thinks he's the one in the driver's seat).

The illustrations are absolutely adorable. I first encountered Fucile's work in the Bink & Gollie books. The style he uses here is much the same, except the pictures are in colour. The animated expressions on the characters' faces really bring the whole adorable story to life.

The plot is very simple but, given the age of the main character, this is a book intended for very young children, so it doesn't need to be complicated. Kids will love watching Mitchell drive his "car" to bed, while adults will get a kick out of seeing the joy that this little game brings both father and son.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.67 out of 5

Review - Two for One

Two for One (Bink & Gollie #2)
by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee
illustrated by Tony Fucile
Date: 2012
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 96
Format: e-book
Source: library

The state fair is in town, and now Bink and Gollie — utter opposites and best friends extraordinaire — must use teamwork and their gray matter while navigating its many wonders. Will the energetic Bink win the world's largest donut in the Whack-a-Duck game? Will the artistic Gollie wow the crowd in the talent show? As the undaunted duo steps into the mysterious tent of fortune-teller Madame Prunely, one prediction is crystal clear: this unlikely pair will always be the closest of pals. Get ready for more laughs in this wry, warmhearted sequel to the New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book Bink and Gollie, written by the award-winning, best-selling Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and featuring the exuberant visual humor of illustrator Tony Fucile.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read the other two Bink & Gollie books earlier this year, since they were the only ones the library had. I requested Two for One last week, and now the library has the full series... so people can read the books in order. That said, there's really no need to read them in order, since the stories are all self-contained. There are little touches here and there (like that rainbow sock from the first book) that continue throughout the series, but knowing the origins of those things isn't necessary for enjoying the rest of the books.

In this installment, Bink and Gollie go to the fair. There didn't seem to be quite as much witty dialogue in this one as in the other two, although the pictures pick up the storytelling slack. The first story, where Bink tries to win a giant donut by playing Whack-a-Duck, is pretty funny. The poor Whack-a-Duck man! But the girls show their kindness in a heartwarming way, turning what could've been a tragedy into a sweet episode.

The last story involves Bink and Gollie visiting a fortune teller. It's a cute ending that wraps up everything that happened that day, and reaffirms the girls' friendship.

As always, the illustrations are great. The expressions on the girls' faces are priceless, and I love how their clothes reflect their personalities (without them always wearing the exact same thing, as characters in comics sometimes do).

While it wasn't my favourite of the series (that honour goes to the first book), I still really liked it. I wish this trilogy had been around when I was a kid. And I wish there were more books about Bink and Gollie's adventures as best friends!

Quotable moment:

"What's next?" said Bink. "The Ferris wheel? The Big Daddy Octopus? The Bump-a-ramabumper cars?"

"Destiny," said Gollie.

"Destiny?" said Bink. "Is it a ride?"

"In a manner of speaking," said Gollie.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Writing & Editing: 5/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4.38 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Best Friends Forever

Best Friends Forever (Bink & Gollie #3)
by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee
illustrated by Tony Fucile
Date: 2014
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 88
Format: e-book
Source: library

Gollie is quite sure she has royal blood in her veins, but can Bink survive her friend’s queenly airs — especially if pancakes are not part of the deal? Bink wonders what it would be like to be as tall as her friend, but how far will she stretch her luck to find out? And when Bink and Gollie long to get their picture into a book of record holders, where will they find the kudos they seek? Slapstick and sweetness, drollery and delight abound in this follow-up to the Geisel Award–winning, New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Bink and Gollie, written by the beloved and best-selling Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and brought to hilarious life by Tony Fucile.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is the third book in the Bink & Gollie series, though I suspect you don't need to have read the second book to get something out of this one (nor would you necessarily need to read these in order). I enjoyed Best Friends Forever, just not quite as much as the first book.

In this installment, Gollie becomes a queen (much to the chagrin of Bink), Bink buys an Acme Stretch-o-Matic (probably from the same catalogue that Wile E. Coyote uses) to make herself taller, and the girls decide they want to get their picture in Flicker's Arcana by developing an extraordinary collection of... something.

I didn't find that the individual stories tied together quite as much as the ones in the first book did. (But I did like how one of Bink's rainbow socks is still in play!) As was the case with the first book, the girls (especially Gollie) use big words that can be puzzled out by kids based on context, and the illustrations are just as cute as ever. (I can totally see these books being used as the basis for an animated series or film.)

Despite not loving this as much as the first book, I still think this is a really strong series. I'll have to see if I can get my hands on the second book at some point!

Quotable moment:

"All righty, then," said Bink. "Let's eat!"

"I shall no longer be cooking pancakes for you, Bink," said Gollie.

"Why not?" said Bink.

"I regret to inform you," said Gollie, "that royalty does not cook for others."

"Oh," said Bink. "Okay. I regret to inform you that I am going home."

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Writing & Editing: 5/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4.38 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Bink & Gollie

Bink & Gollie (Bink & Gollie #1)
by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee
illustrated by Tony Fucile
Date: 2010
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 88
Format: e-book
Source: library

Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls--one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure, brought to life through the delightfully kinetic images of Tony Fucile.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I was searching my library's e-book selections for more books by Kate DiCamillo because I've found her to be a reliably good author when I want a children's book that's written well and isn't condescending. I'd never even heard of the Bink & Gollie books before, but the library had #1 and #3 (typical), so I picked up the first one to give it a try. As soon as I was done, I downloaded the third book as well.

This is a super-cute depiction of friendship. The pictures themselves are adorable (I love Gollie's house up in the tree and Bink's wild hair!), but combined with DiCamillo and McGhee's wonderful writing, I felt like I was watching an amazing animated film. I could almost hear Bink's cute little voice in my head (she has some of the best lines). DiCamillo never shies away from using big words, trusting that kids are smart enough to figure out what is meant through context. The result is a story that is enjoyable for a much wider age range than one might normally find in a children's book.

The stories are simple, but they all tie together by the end, and the girls' friendship is reinforced even more. I wish my library had all of the books in the series, because I'd love to read about more of Bink and Gollie's adventures.

Quotable moment:

"Hello, Gollie," said Bink. "Do I smell pancakes?"

"You do not," said Gollie.

"Will I smell pancakes?" said Bink.

"Perhaps a compromise is in order, Bink," said Gollie.

"What's a compromise?" said Bink.

"Use your gray matter, Bink," said Gollie. "You remove your outrageous socks, and I will make pancakes."

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Writing & Editing: 5/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5 ladybugs