Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The 18th book in Manzione and Lucco's Bella & Harry series finds the two itinerant Chihuahuas in the Big Apple. The story works best taken as a travelogue, rather than a Christmas tale. Amid holiday activities like ice-skating and seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, Bella shares scattered overviews of city highlights, including the five boroughs, details about New York's location in the mid-Atlantic region, and backstory regarding the statue at Rockefeller Center: "Prometheus. He was a god in mythology and it is said he brought fire to mankind. Greek mythology can be a lot of fun, but right now... it's all about Christmas in New York City!" Rambling writing and artwork that's more successful at capturing city landmarks than the book's human and canine characters can't quite match the enthusiasm these two animals bring to their travels. Ages 5-10. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-2-Sibling Chihuahuas Harry and Bella enjoy traveling around the world. In this, their 18th adventure, they spend Christmas in the Big Apple. As they visit popular Manhattan landmarks, geographical and historical facts pepper their conversation, interrupting the already slight story. The artwork, though colorful and energetic, is often sloppy, especially in the depiction of human characters, who tend to be disproportionate, with blurry features. Text is frequently obfuscated because of poor layout choices. The final few pages are presented as a facsimile of a photo scrapbook. VERDICT The intent to provide an educational amusement is laudable, but unfortunately, there is little to recommend here.-Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2015. 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.
