Charlotte and the Rock

January 23, 2017
Knowing that their daughter craves a pet, Charlotte’s parents, with great fanfare, present her with a large rock. Charlotte, who has glasses and pigtails and looks a tiny bit dorky, is a good sport: “It wasn’t quite what Charlotte had in mind, but she tried to remain positive.” Cotterill’s (No More Bows!) droll ink drawings show Charlotte naming her rock Dennis by tipping it out the window onto a grid of names written in chalk on the sidewalk. “We chose it together!” she tells a neighbor proudly. Charlotte discovers things she and Dennis can do together (read, dress up as superheroes) but mourns that Dennis can’t love her back. When Dennis hatches (spoiler: he’s an egg), he delivers unexpected joy. Readers who expected Charlotte to reconcile herself to Dennis may resist the egg ex machina, while those looking for excitement may be frustrated by the long setup. But Martin’s (Robot Smash!) dry humor delivers giggles (“You said what ate your homework?” Charlotte’s teacher snaps), and so does the concluding reversal of fortune. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Company. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency.

January 15, 2017
The pet Charlotte Grey has long wished for and finally gets for her sixth birthday is not what she had in mind. Charlotte is a cheerful, sturdy, bespectacled white child who lives with her white parents and Grandma Glennis, who knits and smiles benignly. The opening pages show Charlotte imagining a passel of lively, interactive, and cuddly pets, but what she gets for her birthday looks exactly like an enormous...rock. So spherical, solid, and gray is Charlotte's new pet that readers won't guess it's anything but a boulder. Charlotte earnestly engages with her rock, taking it on walks and picnics, reading comics and playing games together, each wearing a matching hat. Charlotte names her pet Dennis. "We chose it together," she tells a neighbor about the name--while the illustration shows her dropping the rock onto a grid of four name choices. Martin's deadpan narrative voice emphasizes Charlotte's stolid devotion to her odd pet. When Dennis, who "knew Charlotte needed a hug," finally undergoes a sudden and dramatic change, it is Grandma who seems to be the only family member who is not surprised. Cotterill's pen-outlined drawings and minimal color palette give her cartoon art a breezy feel that matches well with the silliness of the text. Amusing as well as subtly encouraging about the rewards for patience and working with what you've got. (Picture book. 3-6)

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May 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Charlotte, like most children, yearns to own a pet; any kind will do. When her parents finally deliver, Charlotte is less than ecstatic to receive a pet rock. Her extraordinary pet is not the handheld type with googly eyes pasted on, but a huge boulder. Positives of the pet rock: Dennis is a great listener, doesn't require much maintenance, and is hypoallergenic. Negatives: he is extremely hard to walk, won't eat those pesky veggies that are dropped under the table, and doesn't really show affection. But Charlotte still manages to make the best of an odd situation, loving her rock and constantly wishing for it to love her back. Finally, one night, the rock instinctively knows that Charlotte needs a hug, so obligingly, it cracks open, releasing the baby dino (complete with spectacles) that has been incubating inside all along. In the end, Charlotte and her new dino pet are happier than ever. Vintage-style illustrations with spare coloring add to the appeal of this heartwarming story. Children will laugh at the surprise ending and may be inspired to try to hatch a pet rock of their own. VERDICT A recommended purchase for any primary collection; great for pet-themed read-alouds, beginning readers, and lap reading.-Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2017
Preschool-K More than anything, Charlotte wants a pet. She doesn't even care what kind. But when her parents surprise her on her sixth birthday with a boulder-sized pet rock, the bespectacled girl is thrown for a loop. Still, she tries her best to look on the bright side of the situation: a rock is quiet, hypoallergenic, and perfect for leaning against while readingthough going for walks is a chore. Charlotte grows to love her pet, but she wistfully wishes it could return her affection. In a silly twist, Charlotte's wish comes true in a big way. Cotterill uses pen, ink, and watercolor to charmingly depict Charlotte's exploits with her rock through a mix of spot illustrations and full-page spreads. The simple palette of teal, coral, and gray pops against white backgrounds and draws attention to the humor of each scenepicnicking in the park, swimming, dressing up. Kids will giggle over Charlotte's efforts to treat her rock like a normal pet, and it's refreshing to see a child making the best of a disappointing situation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)