You're Wearing THAT to School?!

May 27, 2013
Penelope is one self-confident and stylish hippo. When she proudly models potential first-day outfits (one includes a loud floral dress, zebra-print leggings, and a feather boa), her best friend Tiny is horrified. Having started school a year earlier, the cautious mouse advises her to wear clothing that will let her “fit right in,” and nixes her idea of bringing a lavish picnic lunch and a beloved stuffed animal. Penelope’s effervescence leaps from the page as she follows her own muse—and learns that she’s not the only outside-the-box thinker at school. With humor and sensitivity, Plourde and Cornelison underscore the importance of being true to oneself. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words.

Starred review from June 1, 2013
A hippo with her own sense of style shows her 1-year-older, uptight, mouse best friend that it's important to be true to yourself. Penelope is over the moon to be starting school, but her best friend, Tiny, seems more reticent about his first day back: "Oh, Penelope, you have so much to learn." And he's not talking about academics. Penelope's sparkle rainbow outfit will cause everyone to stare, and what will they think of her picnic lunch and her Hugsy Hippo for show and tell? Tiny helps her pick out the perfect outfit, lunch and item for show and tell--all of them boring, ordinary and plain in Penelope's eyes. But you can't keep a happy hippo down, and in the morning, Penelope dons her sparkle rainbow outfit and packs her picnic lunch and Hugsy Hippo anyway. Tiny is uncomfortable with the other kids' stares at the bus stop, reluctant to sit with Penelope on the bus and worried that his friend will have a bad day. But when they meet up again in the lunchroom, he realizes that his fears were unfounded. Penelope not only has a great day, she makes the day better for all the kids around her, Tiny included. Plourde's dialogue includes lots of give-and-take between Penelope and Tiny, encouraging children to join in, and Cornelison's illustrations positively revel in Penelope's outre glee. Penelope joins the ranks of some other popular nonconformists, including Ian Falconer's Olivia, David Shannon's Camilla Cream and Victoria Jamieson's Bea. (Picture book. 4-8)

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May 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 1-This gentle picture book delivers its message with a minimum of didacticism. Outgoing, optimistic, and original, Penelope, a hippo, is excited about starting school. Her retiring friend Tiny, a mouse, is a pessimistic first-grader determined to prevent what he expects would be gaffes on her first day. Penelope plans to wear her favorite outlandish outfit, bring her well-worn stuffed toy for show-and-tell, and pack a picnic lunch. Tiny quashes her cheerful plans, dialing her down to jeans and a T-shirt, a rock, and PB&J. Undeterred, the hippo ignores Tiny's advice and shows up at the bus stop dressed as she originally planned. At school, they separate, rejoining for lunch. The lunchroom doors open in a double gatefold to reveal a blanket full of kindergarteners of various species, all sporting wild outfits and eating picnic food. (Some "stuffies" are in evidence as well.) Penelope declares the first day of school fun, and Tiny agrees. The text reads aloud smoothly, with Tiny's repeated, dismayed "Oh, no, no!" inviting participation. The brightly colored cartoon animals are appealingly cuddly looking. Pictorial thought bubbles are an effective device, and exuberant Penelope tends to fill full-color single pages and spreads. Cornelison is a master of facial expressions, displaying the characters' emotions for all to see. "Tips for a Hippo Happy First Day of School" are appended. Although plenty of starting-school books are available, this is a pleasant addition where more are needed.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

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