The Useful Moose

October 25, 2004
Moose on the brain soon become moose in the house in this quirky, lighthearted fantasy. Plain and simple, Molly likes moose. So much so, her parents plan a moose-watching vacation to Alaska. But the antlered critters were nowhere to be found, having left on their own getaway—to Molly's town. Upon her return home, Molly eagerly befriends three of the furry visitors and invites them to stay with her family. The gentle beasts prove not only good company, but they do a bang-up job of cooking, cleaning and managing household chores. Alas, homesickness soon acts as a "call of the wild" and the trio hoof it back to the 49th state. But happily for Molly, her four-footed friends are only a postcard—and a plane ride—away. Making her picture book debut, Robinson demonstrates a flair for humor tinged with heart in her waxy, textured oil paintings. Portraits of gangly moose sharing the comfy green sofa with the heroine, or using their antlers as a clothes-drying device, ratchet up the level of both silliness and warmth. Ages 4-8.

January 1, 2005
K-Gr 2 -Molly's tale begins, "Some children like cats. Some children like dogs. I like moose." After traveling to Alaska with her family to see these animals, the girl discovers that they are all vacationing in her own city. Back home, Molly overhears three young moose complaining about their aching feet and invites them to her apartment. They soon exhibit their exceptional housekeeping skills ("Monty was a great cook. Munroe was a fantastic washer-upper. Milligan and Monty were terrific at dryng laundry. And Munroe was wonderful at winding wool"). Inevitably, the animals get homesick and return to Alaska, but send their friend postcards and even drop in for a surprise appearance at her birthday party. On the last page, Molly changes her beginning statement to, "I love moose!" The textured oil paintings are done in cartoon style and reinforce the mood and action of the story. Children will love examining and discussing the humorously exaggerated pictures. With its broad and comical appeal, this original picture book is an excellent choice for individual or group readings." -Jessi Platt, Auburn Public Library, AL"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.