Amy Is Famous

December 15, 2018
Amy is a star, but sharing the spotlight isn't so easy.When her teacher calls her a star, Amy believes she is famous. She loves being famous, signing autographs for her fans and dressing in the color of fame: red. But a new day at school brings a new girl named Cecile, and Cecile is also dressed like someone famous (Hermione Granger, accessorized, according to Cecile, with "the actual scarf" worn in a Harry Potter movie). Naturally, everyone wants to be Cecile's friend, except for Amy. Amy's mom encourages her to make friends, so she invites Cecile for a play date--but Cecile doesn't want to do anything, because famous people have to always look pretty and stay clean. But that's no fun. In the end, they agree being regular girls is better than being famous. Told from Amy's perspective, the text ties together her experiences, imagination, and feelings. Bottner uses Amy's teddy bear to share additional thoughts and feelings Amy may be having, similar to a conscience. While most of the illustrations are done on a white background, Chen uses color to express mood, with dull colors for sad moments and bright, bold colors for happiness. Amy and her mom present Asian, and her dad has brown skin and black hair; Cecile has light-brown skin and curly hair.Sometimes being famous isn't all that great, but this story of friendship, self-reliance, and overcoming jealousy is. (Picture book. 3-7)

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October 29, 2018
Bottner (Priscilla Gorilla) explores classroom dynamics through two fame-obsessed girls. Upon receiving teacherly stars for a poem and a drawing, Amy believes she must be famous, so she practices her autographs and wears all red to school (“Famous people wear red”). Her sense of self-importance is punctured by the arrival of a new girl, who launches to popularity when she shows up dressed first like Hermione Granger (“from the Harry Potter movie”), then as Hello Kitty, and finally in Amy’s own beloved crimson. “There can’t be two famous people in one tiny classroom!” declares Amy. Though her mother suggests that the new student is just trying to find her way, Amy grouses about her reversal of fortune until an unexpected playdate helps both kids discover that fame and itchy costumes aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Illustrations by Chen (Doris the Bookasaurus) convey Amy’s mixed emotions, but the story’s focus on the superficial as the main means by which Amy and the new girl express themselves flattens the message. Ages 3–6.

March 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-At school, Amy gets a star for a poem she wrote about her stuffed bear. The next week she gets a star for a drawing. "Stars for a star" her teacher says and Amy basks in the limelight. She decides that she wants to be famous. She will be in magazines, on TV, and will be the most important person. A new girl, Cecile, comes to school one day. Cecile garners the attention that Amy craves with her fabulous accessories. There cannot be two famous people in one tiny classroom. Amy tells her mother how unhappy she is and her mother explains that perhaps the new girl is trying to make friends. Amy will not listen. Her mother arranges a playdate with Cecile. Amy discovers she and Cecile have more in common than she had thought. Both girls conclude that being a star all the time can be tiresome. In addition, being a regular' girl and a friend is just as fun. Cutesy, digital illustrations with an inclusive group of children should appeal to readers. Bright reds, purples, and pinks mirror the many girlish elements throughout. Best suited for an older picture book audience, as there is a great deal of text, both conversational and narrative. VERDICT Young girls, particularly those immersed in pop-culture, may find a message of the importance of friendship over more shallow pursuits.-Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services

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