Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. This sequel to the appealingly wacky Company's Coming (2000) continues the saga of Shirley and Moe, and their space alien "company." Enchanted by Shirley's meatballs, the visitors announce that they have chosen the earthlings to cater their sister's wedding . . . on the planet Nextoo! Sensible Moe has reservations, but Shirley is thrilled, especially when she discovers their destination is next to Uranus ("Oh, I love Uranus," she burbles). Alas, once they arrive, the aliens' uncle Irving mistakes them for Martians and zaps them with his ray gun. Fortunately, the only lasting effect this has on the elderly couple is to cure their arthritis, and Shirley proceeds to whip up enough meatballs to feed the entire planet. Funny stuff? Yes, especially for adults who'll be reading the story. But this isn't quite as inspired as the first book. The humor seems a bit forced, and the inclusion of a shooting--even with a ray gun--may not set well with everyone in these difficult times. Still, the comic spirit prevails, and Small's delightfully droll pictures save the day.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This droll follow-up to Company's Coming opens as Shirley and Moe and their company from outer space bid farewell to other dinner guests: a cache of cousins as well as "all the soldiers, pilots, Marines, FBI men" whom a panicked Moe (convinced that the space creatures were launching an invasion) had summoned in the previous tale. In these unsettled times, readers may find the initial images of tanks and missiles surrounding the hosts' suburban home disturbing, but the visuals then brighten considerably. Sitting side by side on the sofa, the two delightfully silly-looking aliens announce that Shirley's meatballs were the best they have ever tasted and invite her to cater their sister's wedding on their planet, Nextoo. Tickled, Shirley clutches her hands together and, when told that the planet is located next to Uranus, gushes, "Oh, I love Uranus!... Not that we've ever been there, but I hear it's very nice." Such laugh-out-loud lines punctuate Yorinks's playful narrative, which follows Shirley and Moe (who load 27 suitcases onto the spaceship) to Nextoo. Here, in a clever turnabout, the spacemen's Uncle Irving stuns the humans with his ray gun since he suspects them of being invaders. Recovering in time to prepare the wedding feast, the couple serve up enough meatballs "to feed the whole planet" and dance the night away before returning home. This comical collaboration makes very good company. Ages 5-9. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Familiarity with Yorinks and Small's Company's Coming (Hyperion, 2000) is helpful before undertaking this sequel, which begins with a chilling scene. Moe and Shirley's small house is surrounded by tanks and missiles pointed directly at it. When the narrative begins, readers find that these are soldiers, pilots, Marines, and FBI men. They're leaving, but there's no explanation of why they were there in the first place, although conclusions may be drawn from the fact that two aliens are sitting on the couch. Impressed by Shirley's meatballs, the spacemen announce that they would like her to cater their sister's wedding on their home planet, Nextoo. Moe is reluctant, but Shirley enthusiastically packs 27 suitcases. Despite reassurances from the aliens that they live on a peaceful planet, the two have barely disembarked when they are shot with a ray gun by a nervous uncle who assumes they are invading Martians. The response to his action is, "`How could Uncle Irving shoot the caterers,' sobbed the bride-to-be. `Now what-I have to have a wedding-with no food?'" While there are numerous funny moments, this kind of quirkiness may not sit comfortably with many adults. Small's watercolors support the text wonderfully, but again, the card reading "Sorry We Shot You" on Moe and Shirley's bedside table is questionable humor.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ (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
(Primary) This sequel to Company's Coming (first published in 1988 and reissued in 2000 in a slightly revised format) is, if anything, funnier than the first, and less preachy as well. Here, the benign visitors from outer space who caused all the fuss make an announcement: they want earthlings Moe and Shirley to cater their sister's wedding on Nextoo, which is located-wait for it-""next to Uranus."" Calm, nurturing Shirley is enthusiastic; Moe, doubtful and prone to hysteria, as always, has reservations. ""'So it's a little far,' said Shirley. 'You'll take a magazine.'"" The story continues in this fashion, with much of the humor lying in the contrast between the outlandish events and the everyday-ness of the characters' behavior and reactions-human and alien alike. When Moe and Shirley land on Nextoo, the inhabitants mistake them for invading Martians, and one nervous alien shoots them with a ray gun. ""'How could Uncle Irving shoot the caterers,' sobbed the bride-to-be. 'Now what-I have to have a wedding-with no food?'"" Everything turns out all right in the end: Moe and Shirley recover (the rays even cure their arthritis), make enough meatballs to feed the whole planet, and dance the night away at the wedding before returning home the next morning, after breakfast and ""a little shopping."" The broadly humorous, blithely innocent story is supported by David Small's lighthearted illustrations, which are as funny in their juxtapositions as the text: the little buglike aliens perched comfortably on Shirley's pink, fifties-style couch; Moe boarding the flying saucer with a camera hanging around his neck, typical-American-tourist-style. A very clever design reprises the closing events of the first book on the half-title, title, CIP, and dedication pages; then a refreshing blank page clears our palates before the new story begins, right where the old one left off. m.v.p. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
