Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3-7. Charles, a Caspar Milquetoast of a mouse too shy to speak to his shadow, thwarts all parental efforts at involving him in gregarious children's activities. In frustration father mouse proclaims him, ``a jelly roll . . . a cowardly custard,'' yet, left alone with a sitter who tumbles down the stairs, it is Charles who finds voice to summon the emergency service by phone. Ever true to character, Charles, though pleased with his effort, responds to the shouts of ``thank-you'' by burying his head in mother's coat. Wells has a time-tested talent for taking a keenly felt emotion-- in this case, shyness-- and exploring it in a manner that is reassuring to young listeners. Gentle Charles and company are whimsically expressive; faces and postures are subtly yet distinctively drawn, exemplifying Wells' deft touch and adding much to the story. PW.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
``Charles is as happy as he could be,'' but he is so shy he won't thank Mrs. Belinski for a treat, and he refuses to play with Wanda Sue or answer the phone. ``This can't go on,'' says Charles' father, but all attempts to nudge mousy Charles into action backfire. When Charles is enrolled in ballet class, he hides near a potted plant and pretends to be asleep. And when his father buys him a football helmet with silver wings, Charles ends up having to be carried off the field in disgrace. Then Mrs. Block, his babysitter, falls down the stairs and shy Charles efficiently handles the emergency all by himself. Wells' rhyming text is spare and clever and she shows an acute understanding of the painfully shy child. Whether Charles is anxiously peering out from underneath his helmet or eyeing the fearsome telephone, readers will find this quiet hero and his winsome smile beguilingproof that shyness does not preclude competence. Ages 4-8. (September) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2 Charles is as quiet as a mouseand it doesn't bother him one bit. His rodent parents try everything from bribery to scolding, from ballet to football, but Charles resists all of their efforts to make him become more outgoing. It isn't until he is faced with the emergency of an injured babysitter that he springs into action and saves the day, only to revert to his shyness when his parents return. Wells' illustrations, in the familiar style of her Stanley and Rhoda (1978) and Hazel's Amazing Mother (1985, both Dial) show the plump, large-eared cast to be full of charm and cleverness. Facial expressions, posture, and background details substantially extend the humor of the story. The simple rhythm of the rhyming text is subtle and playful. It is refreshing that Wells offers no sudden transformation of Charles, nor does she propose any easy solution to his situation. Instead, she present a welcome portrayal of a common trait in young children with empathy and respect. Starr LaTronica, North Berkeley Library, Calif. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This tale about a shy mouse child is rendered in short, snappy verse and illustrated with Wells's familiar artwork. A welcome reissue of a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner. From HORN BOOK Spring 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Like Wells' Noisy Nora (1973), Charles (a dormouse) is an exemplification of a single, common characteristic. He is perfectly happy, but he prefers to be alone; he won't use the telephone, and--to his parents' embarrassment--he doesn't even say thank you. Sent to ballet, he pretends to sleep; the football coach, thinking him ill, sends him home to bed. Still, when the babysitter takes a fall, Charles rises to the emergency and summons aid, but--cheerfully holding onto his integrity--can't bring himself to respond verbally to the thanks he receives. Wells' rhymed text serves its purpose well enough, but the story's strength is in Wells' comical, vigorous illustrations, exuding common sense in the presence of normal foibles. Her dormouse faces, and Charles' round, sturdy little body, are wonderfully expressive. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
