Review by New York Times Review
This eco-fable gets a lift from cheerful mixed-media illustrations and cute guinea pig characters (they seem to have real tufts of wiry fur and wear brightly patterned outfits). When dandelions, the guinea pigs' favorite food, begin disappearing, munched to "nothing more than bitten-down stalks," it's up to Nibbles to rescue the last plant so new seeds can fly through me air, nearly 3-D, on a beautifully evocative spread. JULIE JUST
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [April 11, 2010]
Review by Booklist Review
Making didactic messages appealing isn't easy, but this lesson about ecological sustainability is in a palatable package featuring a cute guinea pig and situations with which kids will relate (especially the dreaded prospect of eating nothing but cabbage). Nibbles and his guinea-pig neighbors enjoy nothing more than eating dandelion leaves, and they consume every dandelion plant except one, which Nibbles manages to save and propagate, after doing careful research at the library. Colorful mixed-media illustrations add texture and interest; it's especially apt that the dandelion leaves appear to be actual leaves, scanned and incorporated electronically into the art. Children aren't likely to be attracted by this story for its own sake, but it will serve nicely as a green parable on Earth Day or during school units on conservation or ecology.--Foote, Diane Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Every guinea pig in Dandeville loved dandelion leaves," including this story's hero, Nibbles. When leaves run scarce, Nibbles finds one last dandelion growing outside his bedroom window and decides to protect it. After it's grown, he blows the seeds and plants begin to sprout, resulting in "the happy sound of munching once more." Middleton's free-spirited mixed-media illustrations-Nibbles has dimensional whiskers and wears green, floral-print shorts; a "chewy" cabbage appears in photo-collage-keep this allegory about consumption lighthearted. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-A guinea pig loves dandelions, just like everyone else in his town. The plants are eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all snacks in between until they slowly disappear. Then everyone is forced to eat chewy cabbage. Luckily Nibbles discovers a lone dandelion survivor growing under his bedroom window. With great patience and the help of a library book, he cares for his secret treasure until it has a full head of billowy white seeds. Then, from the top of Daisy Chain Hill, he blows the precious seeds all over Dandeville, which is soon awash in tasty treats again. Now Nibbles has two hobbies, soccer and growing dandelions in lovely raised beds. Middleton's tale of overconsuming and scarcity is direct but not preachy. Using a bold font for emphasis, the text is simple and age appropriate, but the mixed-media illustrations steal the show. A photo of a cabbage is combined with drawn elements such as insects. The library scene is full of humorous book titles that will elicit chuckles from young and old. Every page features something that draws the eye in for a closer look. A great tie-in with gardening or plant conservation, or just an enjoyable read.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH (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
Every guinea pig in Dandeville loved dandelion leaves"; hence the eventual dandelion shortage. Young Nibbles, however, finds one last dandelion, reads up on the subject, and soon Dandeville has lots of weeds again--and Nibbles becomes a dandelion gardener. Mixed-media illustrations of sturdy-looking guinea pigs are inviting, despite the somewhat nonsensical story. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Like all the other guinea pigs in Dandeville, Nibbles loves dandelion leaves, eating them for every meal until they've nearly disappearedthere's only one left! Resourceful Nibbles goes to the library, finds a book and learns how to grow them to ensure a sustainable supply. This is a simple story with a message that is delivered gently and with good humor. Middleton's mixed-media collages will delight readers, who can look for the differences in the nearly identical guinea pigs on the endpapers, find actual photographs of dandelion leaves and flowers, cabbage, animal fur and good garden dirt, and maybe even laugh out loud. (Don't miss the guinea pig shopping on the Internet.) Teachers and librarians will be especially pleased that this computer-savvy protagonist solves his problem by reading "very carefully," and they will applaud the self-control that keeps him from eating his dandelion before its flower turned to seeds. Published as Christopher Nibble in the United Kingdom in 2009, this should please readers on this side of the Atlantic as well. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
