Freckleface Strawberry and the Really Big Voice

June 1, 2016
A young boy discovers that his loud voice is (mostly) not appreciated at school.Redheaded Freckleface Strawberry, blond Noah, large and loud Windy Pants Patrick (all white), and brown-skinned Winnie (possibly Southeast Asian) have enjoyed playing (and shouting) all summer long. They have jumped through the sprinkler, savored ice cream treats, and participated in outdoor games. Now it's time to return to school. Most of the children adapt easily to their teachers' and classmates' expectations. But Windy Pants Patrick finds himself being shushed in the classroom, the lunchroom, and the library. Not until he gets to music class does being louder than the rest work to his advantage. Pham's digitally colored Japanese brush-pen artwork is energetic and cheerful with a decidedly retro feel. As in other titles in the series, however, white characters are stark white, which contrasts oddly with the more realistic skin tones of Asian and black individuals. The mildly amusing premise is likewise hampered by the shortcomings of Moore's text. Changes in typeface and font and a multiplicity of exclamation points attempt to add excitement, but short, repetitive, declarative sentences dominate, giving it a choppy feel.Fans of Freckleface Strawberry and her friends will welcome their return, but better stories about school, friendship, and embracing individuality abound. (Picture book. 5-7)

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July 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Moore's most recent addition to the series is sure to be a great read-aloud for the first week of school as teachers are trying to establish classroom expectations. Freckleface Strawberry's best friend Windy Pants Patrick has a distinct and booming voice that is great for the summertime and the playground. But when school starts, Patrick has a difficult time finding his inside voice. Diverse characters model school manners, and Patrick's inability to follow the rules provides some humor. Though the illustrations are very colorful, there is also a lot of white space on the pages. The characters and the tale will engage readers and listeners on the higher end of the age range, and the book invites participation and discussion about inside and outside voices. VERDICT An obvious purchase for libraries with an already established "Freckleface Strawberry" fan base, and a good addition for back-to-school collections.-Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY

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