Edie Is Ever So Helpful

October 15, 2017
How many ways can one child help? Plucky heroine Edie is absolutely ready to help. What she doesn't realize is that her version of helping is sometimes...different from everyone else's. Stylized, matte illustrations recall the 1960s and vibrate with simplicity and charm as they show Edie in action. For instance, she helps wake her family by banging cymbals, dragging her brother from bed, and serenading her parents (with guitar) as loudly as possible. Her attempt at making breakfast is equally unconventional, and the way she lends a hand at shopping, organizing, and tidying up may be just a tiny bit...unhelpful. After making sure everyone has a good time at the park, Edie is ready for a nap, but she wakes ready to help again; first her brother needs help dressing up, and then Grandma needs some makeup and Grandpa, a new hairstyle (both delivered while they are asleep). "Sometime I have to remember NOT to be quite so helpful," Edie says...but she also knows she is much appreciated and very much loved. The clear, straightforward text is full of warm and gentle humor and is aligned with the illustrations to allow young listeners the space to draw connections between the words and pictures. Edie and her family are uniformly pale-skinned, black-haired, and dot-eyed. A charming, funny selection that's sure to be embraced. (Picture book. 3-6)

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November 6, 2017
Even the very young should be able to detect the irony in Henn’s title without seeing the first page. Young Edie wakes up her parents by jumping on their bed and playing guitar, she gives Grandma and Grandpa surreptitious makeovers when they’re snoozing, and she paints a big messy butterfly on the wall. Henn’s images are never less than striking—they bring to mind vintage European poster art crossed with classic Little Lulu comics. Edie’s eager dot eyes and big smile exude heedless exuberance, and she cuts a stylish figure in her black tulle skirt, mustard yellow shirt, and red pompom hat. But Edie also feels more relentless than impish—her thoughtlessness and impulsiveness quickly become one-note, and Henn doesn’t seem interested in understanding it. Even Edie’s behavioral epiphany (“Sometimes I have to remember not to be quite so helpful”) comes across more like an attempt at wrapping up the story than genuine character development. Readers may find themselves having a greater connection to the kids and adults around Edie, who are usually wearing grimaces and frowns. Ages 3–7.

January 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-In the vein of Olivia and Eloise, this clever, tongue-in-cheek story will have audiences laughing aloud. Edie enumerates the many ways in which she "helps out," while the pictures tell an entirely different story. She puts her shoes on (the wrong feet), organizes Mommy's office (by wildly decorating her desk) etc., and finally "helps" by "brightening the place up a bit" (painting on the walls) at which point our narrator says "Sometimes I have to remember NOT to be quite so helpful." Finally, she recalls "exactly how helpful I should be" and gives hugs, reads to her brother, and behaves...mostly. The clever story moves along at a good clip, encouraging page turns and leaving plenty of room for the illustrations to expand the plot. The colorful, naive illustrations are reminiscent of Christian Robinson's, complete with black oval eyes, lots of white space, and a use of bold retro colors. Henn takes advantage of the layout, using spot art to provide movement, visually tell the story, and match Edie's exuberance. There are many small vignettes on stark white backgrounds, but periodically they lead into full-bleed spreads, emphasizing the action. Edie is always clearly visible in her pom-pom hat, black skirt, and mustard-colored top. Despite the simplicity of the faces, Henn manages to portray emotions extremely effectively, with only a few facial lines and body positioning. VERDICT Sure to be a big hit, this delightful story will be enjoyed one-on-one while also making an excellent read-aloud in storytime.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

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