Is That You, Eleanor Sue?

Starred review from October 8, 2018
Disguised in an impressive bouffant wig and a green dress, Eleanor Sue climbs out her bedroom window, knocks on her own front door, and introduces herself to her mother as Mrs. McMuffins, a new neighbor. Eleanor’s mother has lots of time and a deep well of patience, and she invites her visitor in for tea. But that’s just the beginning: throughout the day, Eleanor’s mother opens her door to a witch, a wizard, and a bear; accepts a delivery of flowers from her own garden; greets a cat; and at last answers the door in a costume of her own. Imaginative but never too precious talk shared between mother and daughter underscores realistic character play (“I wore my shoes right through, ma’am,” Eleanor-as-delivery-person says as her mother proffers a footbath), and Eleanor’s hints at the personas to come reward alert listeners. Artwork by Tusa (Follow Me) in a palette of rose, sienna, and green offers instant accessibility to the characters’ emotions and all the warmth of the Sunday funnies. Eleanor’s mother takes obvious delight in her daughter’s inventiveness in this celebration of creative play, simple pleasures, and bighearted love. Ages 4–8.

November 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-On Saturdays, little Eleanor Sue likes to plays dress-up. As she puts on each new disguise, "she climbs out of her bedroom window, tiptoes over to the front door, and rings the doorbell..." Her mother answers and cheerfully plays along with her daughter's whimsy, saying "Well, hello. Can I help you?" Appearing as a new neighbor Mrs. McMuffins, a witch, a wizard, a bear, a delivery person, and a cat, Eleanor Sue's costumes culminate in dressing up as her grandma, only to find out that her mom dressed up as Grandma too! To add to the confusion, the real Grandma comes to visit, causing Eleanor Sue to finally appear as herself. Tusa's signature ink-and-watercolor (and "turnips, twigs, and raindrops" per the front matter) illustrations perfectly complement the lighthearted tone with plenty of humorous details. VERDICT A sweet, charming tale perfect for fans of dressing up, this is a strong selection for most libraries.-Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Library, Boston University

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2018
Young Eleanor Sue loves to play dress-up on Saturdays, and her mother plays along perfectly. Dark type in a large font proclaims against the faded gold wallpaper of a room filled with clothes: "Today is Saturday, Eleanor Sue's favorite day to do her favorite thing--play dress-up." The little girl is wearing an olive-green dress and appears ready to add still more brush strokes to a ridiculously large, bouffant hairdo. She leaves through her bedroom window, grabbing a garden gnome on the way, and appears at the front door. She introduces herself as Mrs. McMuffins, a new neighbor, and then spouts off an absurd list of problems she's identified in her new neighborhood. Eleanor Sue's mother offers tea and listens, straight-faced, to such absurdities as how the sun in the window forces Mrs. McMuffins to wear sunglasses at nap time, and how her eyebrows hurt. Tusa's trademark pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor washes complement the lighthearted mood of the text. Each of Eleanor Sue's quick changes--which include a witch, a wizard, a bear, and more--leads to another funny conversation with her mother, along with plenty of exciting vocabulary ("prosperous," "ferocious," "centaur," "equator") and imaginative ideas. There is also a good deal of humorous action between that bedroom window and the front door. For example, how fast can a "cat" change into another costume and back again? The ending is unexpected--and equal in caliber to the entire book's warmth and whimsy. Both Eleanor Sue and her mother present white.Refreshingly simple, humorous, and playful. (Picture book. 4-8)

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October 15, 2018
Preschool-G On Saturdays, Eleanor Sue plays dress-up. After donning a dress and wig, she climbs out her bedroom window, tiptoes to the front door, and rings the bell. Her mother answers it and meets Mrs. McMuffins, your new neighbor, who accepts an invitation for tea. Twenty minutes after she leaves, the doorbell rings again and Eleanor Sue's mother invites a small witch in for lunch. After a succession of visitors (wizard, bear, delivery person, cat), Momma playfully complicates the game, first by trying to fetch Eleanor Sue to meet the cat, and next by dressing up in her own disguise. The conversations between the mother and her daughter-in-disguise are charming, as the child begins by imitating adult chatter, laces it with increasingly high-flying fantasy, and in the end, engineers her own return to reality. While the text is gently amusing, the artwork is downright captivating. Tusa's expressive ink drawings, washed with delicate colors, suggest the settings and portray these lovable characters with energy, warmth, and wit. A winsome picture book that's sure to inspire imaginative play.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)