Carol Brendler

When Melly receives an invitation to her cousin Malberta's Halloween party in this fun seasonal counting book, the little monster sets out to attend, encountering a series of creepy creatures on the way. Although very brave, Melly becomes increasingly frightened as she meets up with everything from one coal-black cat with an itchy-twitchy tail to ten vexing vultures. Fortunately, she makes it to Malberta's in one piece, where she discovers the creatures she met along the way are fellow party guests...

Pairing an engaging cumulative tale of a Halloween walk from author Carol Brendler with cute, cartoon-like artwork from illustrator Greg Pizzoli, Not Very Scary would make for a fun seasonal story and counting book for younger picture-book audiences. I liked the fact that, much as in the classic Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, each section of the narrative here builds upon prior encounters, with new creatures encountered being added to a list of creatures encountered, which is repeated each time. That repetitive structure would make for a good read-aloud, especially with Melly's increasingly unsure declarations that the creatures are not so terribly scary. Although not destined to become a personal favorite, this was an enjoyable Halloween jaunt, one I would recommend to those picture-nook readers seeking some mild spooky encounters, a counting element, and a happy ending.… (más)

picture book (counting, not-too-scary halloween; toddlers/preschoolers 2.5 and up?)
The cartoony pictures (cute, not scary), and the interaction of the counting and participatory storytelling (completing the sentence "Then she saw..." with what appears on the next page spread), and the repetition (recounting each group of creatures in a list as the story progresses) make this a good choice for younger kids. This would definitely work for storytime or for a one-on-one readaloud, though you may end up reading the longer sentences (growing list of creatures) faster towards the end.… (más)

Ruby and Violet Mutch were collectors. Whatever the one collected, the other must have as well, leading their collection to grow as they did. Eventually, living together as older women, they found themselves somewhat crowded by all their possessions. Or rather, Violet did, while Ruby was content. But when Violet moved out with all her things, establishing her own home where she had enough room to breathe, both sisters found themselves missing something: each other. Was there a way to bring them together again, while also respecting their different needs...?

I had mixed feelings about The Two Mutch Sisters, which is my first picture-book from author Carol Brendler, although my third from illustrator Lisa Brown. I appreciated the fact that the Mutch sisters are older people who have a story of their own, rather than being relegated to the role of grandparents or caregiver to a child, as is so often the case (not unnaturally, given the target audience) when the elderly are depicted in children's books. That said, there was something so blithely privileged about the whole scenario, about the fact that these sisters live together but have two of everything, about the fact that they amass so many possessions that they can hardly move, and most of all, about the fact that the solution to their problem is not learning to share, or getting rid of some of their things, but rather to get two buildings to house them and everything they've collected, that I felt almost repelled by the story and its resolution. I realize that many will read it as a lighthearted tale of two siblings learning to accommodate their differences, or possibly even a gentle, somewhat oblique treatment of issues like hoarding, but I couldn't help but feel that it also offered an unintentional commentary on the out-of-control materialism that seems to be gripping American society at the moment.

Perceptions vary, so take that interpretation as you will. Leaving aside such issues, this is a cute book, one which pairs a fairly engaging tale with appealing artwork, and which might have appeal for those looking for sibling stories for the picture-book set.… (más)

The story begins in a city where the the Pickwicks, a family of fluffy little cats (or possibly dogs? I’m not sure), load up their Pickwick pickup for a trip to the beach. They’re alone on the road, heading for a box-girder bridge, when other traffic starts showing up and the counting begins. Squeaky jeeps, scooters, motorcycles, and hydraulic haulers proliferate until there’s a veritable traffic jam and they all discover - the bridge is closed! Now there’s really a traffic jam! Everyone is just sitting in the heat and feeling grumpier and grumpier until Pip and Peach, the Pickwick pups (or kittens) come up with a solution - a picnic right there on the bridge. Soon it’s a street party with everyone joining in to enjoy the party. When the bridge finally reopens, the Pickwicks get their picnic on the beach, just a little later than planned.

Kurilla’s art is cute and friendly, with lots of colors, zipping vehicles, and leafy green trees. The author is from Chicago and the illustrator from Boston and I could see echoes of both cities in the illustrations, which show little bays, lighthouses, and bridges as well as brownstones, flashing billboards, and all the parts of a busy city.

Verdict: While not particularly unique, this is the type of story that will be a great standby for storytime, a fun read for summer, and an excellent addition to your counting books. A strong addition to any picture book collection.

ISBN: 9780544839588; Published 2017 by Clarion Books; Borrowed from another library in my consortium… (más)