Good Morning to Me!

Starred review from March 30, 2015
Beatrix the parrot: threat or menace? She really is a loving bird; in fact, she’s constantly telling the other animals in her cottage home that she loves them. But she’s so clueless and so loud—and doesn’t she ever sleep? It’s hard to be her friend and to keep her out of harm’s way, although Mouse certainly tries. He’s assisted by basset hound Gracie and hampered by Kitty, who believes there’s an easy (and tasty) solution to the Beatrix problem. And that’s the whole story—just a series of funny, often wordless misadventures and mishaps featuring a lead character whose energetic, blissfully obtuse personality is as vivid as her bright green feathers. But it’s a lovely book: Judge (Born in the Wild) uses aqueous, shimmering blues for her environments so that the furs, feathers, and marvelous expressions of her cast pop. It also demands, in the best possible way, that readers slow down and pore over every picture. It’s easy to imagine the many warm, giggling interchanges that snuggling with this book will inspire. Ages 4–8. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

March 15, 2015
Unlike her snoozing friend Mouse, Beatrix is a morning person...er, parrot, who rises both in full voice and fully ready to torment the household cat.Beatrix knows she's supposed to be quiet, but she loves everyone and sometimes just can't keep it in. Poor Mouse-the slumbering rodent is blasted awake by the parrot's hearty "GOOD MORNING, MOUSE!" and then must grab a fork and spring to the rescue when the feathered fiend proves a touch too slow making an escape after waking Kitty (a fat and wonderfully disgruntled-looking Siamese) with a doggy "Rrrruuff!" Nor is the morning rumpus over as, following a furniture-upsetting skitter through the house with Gracie the beagle, the pernicious parrot needs rescue again after falling into the goldfish bowl! Beatrix's irrepressible character stands out as brightly as her green and gold plumage in the loosely drawn illustrations, which Judge has otherwise toned down with washes of pale color and sometimes indistinct background details. Mouse's enraged response to Beatrix's chipper "What should we play next?" results in an apology, a (brief) return to peace and quiet, and an affectionate closing nuzzle. Young children who share Beatrix's morning hyperactivity, or even just her flexible relationship with the idea of an "indoor voice," will certainly relate...as will, without doubt, their parents. A few hearty squawks and a brisk bit of exercise-what better way to start the day? (Picture book. 5-7)

May 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-All of her friends are sleeping, but Beatrix the parrot is wide awake. She knows she is supposed to be quiet and tries to talk softly but a loud "GOOD MORNING, MOUSE!" wakes up the snoozing rodent. This sets off a lively commotion as Beatrix wakes up Kitty and is thrilled to see Gracie the dog and the goldfish. Beatrix's excitement leads to her being chased by the cat, riding on the dog, and falling in the fish bowl. Watercolor and pencil illustrations vary between full-page spreads and comic book-style frames. Soft colors contrast the bright green and yellow of Beatrix the parrot. VERDICT Children who have a hard time with indoor voices will relate to Beatrix's enthusiastic nature.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

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