Uh-oh, Cleo

August 1, 2008
Gr 2-3-With a twin brother, Jack, as well as other siblings, and an assortment of toys that live in her special Toy House, eight-year-old Cleo always has someone to pal around with and something to do. When Jack decides to climb the toy house, causing it to fall over, one of the toys hits Cleo in the head, landing her in the hospital for stitches. This new experience in young Cleo's life is a memorable one, and it's made more impressionable by her loving family. Comical family situations are reminiscent of Eleanor Estes's Moffats (although this book is not as long), and Cleo is comparable to Sally Warner's Emma. Playful ink illustrations and large font make it a natural choice for those readers bounding into the world of beginning chapter books. "Cleo" will appeal to kids who've enjoyed Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones, Susan Beth Pfeffer's Sara Kate, or Sheila Greenwald's Rosy Cole."Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2008
In this delightful chapter book, eight-year-old Cleo Small relates the tale of Stitches Saturday, the memorable dayher father calls just another Small disaster, one of many mild calamities that a family with six childrencomes to expect. When Cleos twin brother climbs up the toy shelves in their room, the unit topplesand anunidentified flying object bonks Cleo on the head. Returning home from the doctors, she has a Stitches Saturday party, complete with food, dance, song, and her Halloween princess dress. Told from Cleos point of view, the story is studded with observations, incidents, and conversations that reflect true-to-life sibling relationships and realistic individual foibles.Theres little real conflict, but the books freshness and gentle humor and the economy and finesse of the writingset it apart from most beginning chapter books. Large type, spacious design, and appealing drawings add to the accessibility. A rewarding choice for independent reading or for adults to read aloud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)