Sophie's Terrible Twos

Starred review from January 13, 2014
Sophie the mouse, first seen in Time-out for Sophie, is in another bad mood, and it’s again up to Granny to save the day in a smart and subtle way. It’s Sophie’s birthday, but whether she’s being asked to wear a pink dress or eat blueberry pancakes, everything makes her cranky (“I know someone who has turned the corner onto Grumpy Street,” says Mama). While out on a walk, Granny cleverly redirects Sophie’s “terribleness” in a way that allows the two-year-old to both let it all out and finish the book with a smile. Wells continues to demonstrate an almost telepathic gift for distilling everyday frustrations and triumphs to their essence. Ages 2–up. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

January 1, 2014
It's Sophie's birthday, but nothing seems right to this headstrong 2-year-old until Granny saves the day in this rote offering from Wells. When Sophie wakes up, she refuses to answer her mother's cheerful questions or to wear her special birthday dress. Her father's gift is a disappointment, and she's too picky to eat. After the unappreciative toddler shows disdain for Granny's present (a set of Talking, Blinking Alphabet Blocks), the two set out on a walk. Granny, astute as ever, finds the perfect cure for Sophie's dudgeon: a tiger costume with which Sophie can express all her terribleness! The sabre-tooth suit makes for one acceptable solution, as Sophie happily celebrates her big milestone. Mixed-media illustrations in a pastel palette showcase adept brushwork and beautiful use of pattern. However, both the narrative and illustrations miss the usual comedic beats and deftness of skill that Wells is so capable of producing. At times, the narrative seems more interested in satiric digs at modern concepts of play than in Sophie; in addition to the talking alphabet blocks, there's Sophie's Push-Me-Pull-You Motorcycle and the Learning Curve Toy Shop. A worthy topic and a capable concept that barely miss the mark. (Picture book. 2-6)

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January 1, 2014

PreS-When Sophie "gets up on the wrong side of the crib" on her second birthday, Mama tries to cheer her up with a new pink dress and Daddy tries to chase the blues away with blueberry pancakes. Her rotten mood persists until Granny says, "Let's hit the road!" and they take a wild ride on Sophie's "Push-Me-Pull-You Motorcycle." A ferocious sabre-toothed tiger suit turns out to be just the thing the youngster needs to tame her temper. Sophie, clad in her "terrible tiger" costume, enjoys cake with her family, and when Granny asks her how old she is, the toddler raises two claws in the air and triumphantly announces, "Terrible Two!" Wells's beloved illustrations and her characteristic wit are pitch-perfect for this humorous family drama. Parents and children alike will be able to identify with Sophie's grumpiness and appreciate that sometimes the only one who can make things better is Granny.-Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2013
Preschool-G We first met our little mouse protagonist in Time-Out for Sophie (2013) and already know her to be a lovable handful. On the morning of her second birthday, Sophie wakes up on the wrong side of the crib. She rejects her birthday breakfast of blueberry pancakes and dismisses her presents. She is terrible. Gran arrives and takes her on an outing, hoping to tame her savagery, but Sophie persists. She wants nothing to do with the animal sounds and primary colors at the local toy shop. But when Gran suggests a fearsome, fiery sabre-toothed tiger costume, Sophie is delighted and hurries home to terrify her family in style. As she has done before in books like Shy Charles (1988) and Noisy Nora (1997), Wells distills the challenges of the preschool set into a simple, resonant story, with sensitivity and care and a profound understanding of her audience. Sweet scenes on sherbet-colored backgrounds establish a sort of confining cuteness, making Sophie's grab for independence all the more palpable. Parents and toddlers alike will respond to Sophie's honest-to-goodness antics.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)