Review by Booklist Review
A timid mouse and an over-the-top hippo are a year apart in age, giving the older friend an intellectual advantage. So Tiny the mouse decides to be his friend Penelope's advisor in properly navigating the first day of school. A feather boa and tutu are definitely not good attire. Ditto packing an extravagant picnic. And bringing a beloved stuffed animal to show-and-tell just isn't done. Tiny convinces Penelope that not standing out is important. Or does he? When a spread opens up like a door to reveal Penelope's young classmates enjoying the same things she enjoys, Tiny finds himself agreeing that fun is definitely an important component of school, too. Feathery rainbow colors and expressive, cute creatures will draw readers in, though a concluding list of tips for a Hippo Happy First Day of School seems like overkill. Since the demand for books on this topic is always high when fall rolls around, this is a sure bet for plenty of checkouts.--Cruze, Karen Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Penelope is one self-confident and stylish hippo. When she proudly models potential first-day outfits (one includes a loud floral dress, zebra-print leggings, and a feather boa), her best friend Tiny is horrified. Having started school a year earlier, the cautious mouse advises her to wear clothing that will let her "fit right in," and nixes her idea of bringing a lavish picnic lunch and a beloved stuffed animal. Penelope's effervescence leaps from the page as she follows her own muse-and learns that she's not the only outside-the-box thinker at school. With humor and sensitivity, Plourde and Cornelison underscore the importance of being true to oneself. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-This gentle picture book delivers its message with a minimum of didacticism. Outgoing, optimistic, and original, Penelope, a hippo, is excited about starting school. Her retiring friend Tiny, a mouse, is a pessimistic first-grader determined to prevent what he expects would be gaffes on her first day. Penelope plans to wear her favorite outlandish outfit, bring her well-worn stuffed toy for show-and-tell, and pack a picnic lunch. Tiny quashes her cheerful plans, dialing her down to jeans and a T-shirt, a rock, and PB&J. Undeterred, the hippo ignores Tiny's advice and shows up at the bus stop dressed as she originally planned. At school, they separate, rejoining for lunch. The lunchroom doors open in a double gatefold to reveal a blanket full of kindergarteners of various species, all sporting wild outfits and eating picnic food. (Some "stuffies" are in evidence as well.) Penelope declares the first day of school fun, and Tiny agrees. The text reads aloud smoothly, with Tiny's repeated, dismayed "Oh, no, no!" inviting participation. The brightly colored cartoon animals are appealingly cuddly looking. Pictorial thought bubbles are an effective device, and exuberant Penelope tends to fill full-color single pages and spreads. Cornelison is a master of facial expressions, displaying the characters' emotions for all to see. "Tips for a Hippo Happy First Day of School" are appended. Although plenty of starting-school books are available, this is a pleasant addition where more are needed.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT (c) Copyright 2013. 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
Despite mouse Tiny's advice about navigating the first day of school, hippo Penelope begins the day wearing her "sparkle rainbow outfit" rather than the plain attire that will help her "fit right in." The didactic narrative touches on first-day-of-school clothing, lunches, and show-and-tell while stressing the importance of being yourself. Digital illustrations humorously pit the theatrical hippo against her quiet-minded mouse friend. (c) Copyright 2013. 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
A hippo with her own sense of style shows her 1-year-older, uptight, mouse best friend that it's important to be true to yourself. Penelope is over the moon to be starting school, but her best friend, Tiny, seems more reticent about his first day back: "Oh, Penelope, you have so much to learn." And he's not talking about academics. Penelope's sparkle rainbow outfit will cause everyone to stare, and what will they think of her picnic lunch and her Hugsy Hippo for show and tell? Tiny helps her pick out the perfect outfit, lunch and item for show and tell--all of them boring, ordinary and plain in Penelope's eyes. But you can't keep a happy hippo down, and in the morning, Penelope dons her sparkle rainbow outfit and packs her picnic lunch and Hugsy Hippo anyway. Tiny is uncomfortable with the other kids' stares at the bus stop, reluctant to sit with Penelope on the bus and worried that his friend will have a bad day. But when they meet up again in the lunchroom, he realizes that his fears were unfounded. Penelope not only has a great day, she makes the day better for all the kids around her, Tiny included. Plourde's dialogue includes lots of give-and-take between Penelope and Tiny, encouraging children to join in, and Cornelison's illustrations positively revel in Penelope's outr glee. Penelope joins the ranks of some other popular nonconformists, including Ian Falconer's Olivia, David Shannon's Camilla Cream and Victoria Jamieson's Bea. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
