Oh, Theodore!

October 1, 2007
K-Gr 3-Through a series of simple, warmhearted poems, this book introduces readers to a boy and his new pet, who got his name because "He's soft, /plump, /fuzzy, /brown/-like a teddy bear." The relationship begins tentatively: Theodore "presses himself/to the floor" in fear, ignores his pellets, and runs from the ""scary giant"." Katz skillfully weaves in pet-care information and captures the pair's growing trust and bond: "I offer Theodore/an apple slice./He lets me pet/his head, /then purrs./"Hello, friend"" ("At Last"). When the little creature is frightened by a ringing telephone and disappears, readers will experience both the boy's anguish and his relief when he finds him: "Theodore crawls/under my shirt, /tickles his way/up to my neck, /and curls himself/around me: /a brown fur collar/that purrs" ("Fur Piece"). Schuett's bold acrylic and acrylic-gouache illustrations reflect the broad range of emotions expressed in the pieces. Using various perspectives and plenty of white space, the delightful pictures complement the poems well. Patience, responsibility, humor, and love are found in full measure in this book that children will enjoy."Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
The young narrator badly wants a pet, but his mom says dogs are loud and snakes are too scary. So theboy reluctantly winds upwith a guinea pig. Through short poems and free verse, the boy and readers get to know Theodore (soft, plump, fuzzy brownlike a teddy bear). At first, Theodore hides in his cage, but a cautious approach finallyresultsin a pat on the head followed by a purr. Since guinea pigs are not the most interactive of pets, the text sometimes seems stretched; one very short poem notes that Theodore doesnt have a tail. But most of the verses make aclever point, and the actionpicks up when, not unexpectedly, Theodore gets lost.The Latino mother and son, along with Theodore himself, are attractively portrayed, withthe guinea pigs expressive face bordering on anthropomorphic. An oversize format with plenty of white space adds appeal, and the short textcan be used with beginning readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2007
These free-verse poems don't work independently, but together they tell the sweet story of a boy's slow winning-over of his new, very frightened guinea pig. Using poetry to tell the story keeps the text brief and direct, conveying Katz's keen observations of guinea pig behavior with well-chosen words, as in the poem "Danger": "When I bring more hay / for his bed, / Theodore / jerks his head / and presses himself / to the floor. / It's only me, / Theodore." The acrylic illustrations add tremendously to the appeal of the picture book, using a palette of browns, blues, and greens for both boy and guinea pig, incorporating intense shades and white to highlight textures. Like Katz, Schuett spent time watching a family guinea pig, and she manages to capture all its moods and fuzzy appeal.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)