Budgie & Boo

March 9, 2009
McPhail (When Sheep Sleep
) returns to themes of friendship and cooperation in this serene picture book, which is divided into four vignettes. Budgie, an overalls-clad bear, and Boo, a bunny in a vest and pants, share a cozy cottage and are able gardeners (“Boo's vegetables were the tastiest, and nobody grew flowers as beautiful as Budgie's”) and “the best of friends.” A leak that surfaces in the “Morning” section is fixed during “Afternoon,” and the pair takes a moonlight stroll in the final segment. In the story's funniest sequence, a well-intentioned Budgie brings Boo—who is attempting to fix the leaky roof—a rake, shovel and hoe before Boo exclaims, “This is a roof
, not a garden
! What I need is a hammer and some nails.” Pastel hues dominate McPhail's pen and ink and watercolors, which reveal obvious mutual affection between the friends; bucolic spreads open each section. Though the text is somewhat pedestrian and the pacing occasionally jarring, the placid setting and characters' tender interactions make for a tranquil bedtime read. Ages 3–6.

March 1, 2009
PreS-Gr 1-Divided into three chapters, this book features the homey adventures of two gardeners who are the best of chums: Boo, a bunny who clutivates the tastiest vegetables, and Budgie, a bear who grows the most beautiful flowers. When Boo wakes to a wet nose, his buddy discovers a roof leak and pushes his pal's bed out from beneath the drip. In the afternoon, Boo climbs a ladder and fixes a loose shingle in spite of Budgie's well-intentioned (but unhelpful) offer of garden tools to assist with the repair. And in the evening, on a walk that becomes dark and scary for both of them when a cloud covers the moon, Boo reassures his friend that they can return to their home and safety. The simple text features short sentences and some lovely turns of phrase that beg to be read aloud. McPhail's luminous watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations echo the quietude of the comfy relationship as the pair fix breakfast, gaze at the rain, and share a laugh. The delight of spending time with the two friends who watch out and care for one another will make this amiable book a lapsit favorite.Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2009
Preschool-K Budgie is a bear who grows beautiful flowers. Boo is a bunny who grows tasty vegetables. In four simple chapters, the two become best friends, work hard in their gardens, fix a leak in the ceiling of their house, and lose their way on a night walk, bringing the tale full circle. Dramatic two-page spreads announcing Morning, Afternoon, and so on, give the story an appealing framework. Both format and story are reminiscent of Frog and Toad (1970), though its not an easy reader. McPhails familiar pen-and-ink watercolors imbue each animal with character and personality, and the friendship theme is delivered carrot-crisp and posy-pretty. Preschoolers will be drawn to the cheery cover and giggle over the namesand thats before they even open the book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)