Review by Booklist Review
K-Gr. 2. Three episodes about friendship make up this Easy-to-Read title starring young Pearl the rabbit and Wagner the mouse. In the first two scenarios, the friends prepare for the science fair: Pearl gets down to work, constructing a cardboard, trash-eating robot. Wagner helps, while dreaming about his own project. Wagner is still empty-handed when the students present their work--until Pearl announces the robot was made by both of them. After Wagner inadvertently fumbles the project, Pearl sees he was only trying to help and is warm and forgiving. In the final story, the friends fight when Wagner tells Pearl that he dislikes her new boots, then Wagner finds a creative way to make up. Alley's expressive art captures the emotions and high jinks with winsome detail, and McMullan's basic text, enhanced with exclamations and dialogue, tackles tough friendship issues with accuracy and sunny outcomes. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2003 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
From the first page of this launch title of a beginning readers series, the audience will feel like they're enrolled in Ms. Star's class, deciding what to make for the science fair along with adorable Pearl (a rabbit) and her friend Wagner (a mouse). Alley's (Mrs. Brown on Exhibit) illustrations enhance this effect with their knee-level or just-at-the-next-desk perspectives. McMullan (I Stink!) moves the story forward with simple, authentic dialogue. "I'm going to make a robot," says Pearl while Wagner dreams, "I am going to win a prize." Streamlined vocabulary and sentence structure accommodate the needs of newly independent readers without constricting the story. The last chapter segues to a believable tiff (Wagner hurts Pearl's feelings when he tells her that her new green boots "look like big fat pickles and... make way too much noise"). Alley's detailed watercolors divide the text in a variety of attractive layouts and add extra charm and emotion to the proceedings. Budding readers will want to follow this duo's further adventures. Ages 5-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-As everyone works diligently on their science projects, Wagner doesn't make any real progress. His friend Pearl saves him from embarrassment by offering to share her robot. Likable animal characters present everyday classroom situations with healthy doses of candor and good humor. (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
Whether they are building disastrous science projects or navigating through hurt feelings, Pearl (a conscientious rabbit) and Wagner (a daydreaming mouse) demonstrate the most enduring qualities of friendship. This winsome new pair is brought to life with three well-paced episodes in a classroom setting both recognizable and appealing for new readers. Alley's illustrations capture a range of animal expression. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (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
Pearl the rabbit and Wagner the mouse are best friends in this funny school-themed easy reader that focuses on science fair projects. Three short, related chapters written at the second-grade reading level show Pearl and Wagner creating a robot from boxes, entering their robot in the science fair, and using the robot as a way to make up after a disagreement threatens their friendship. McMullan, a former teacher, skillfully integrates key aspects of classroom friendships into her story with understated humor and some funny situations and dialogue. Alley's delightfully detailed illustrations use watercolor with pen and ink to bring the classroom of assorted animals to life, especially through the appealing facial expressions. He adds tiny details to the backgrounds that young readers will enjoy (such as escaping insects from a science project) as well as accurate illustrations of the projects. Teachers in the lower elementary grades might use this as a read-aloud before science-fair season, and Pearl and Wagner seem destined to explore other curriculum areas in future volumes as their friendship continues. (Easy reader. 5-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
