Peas in a pod

PreS-Gr 2-Pippa, Pia, Poppy, Polly, and Peg are identical quintuplets, and their parents want them to stay that way. Everything, from the sisters' curly hair to their bedtime storybooks, is the same. But as they become toddlers and, later, school-age children, the girls "take control" and start expressing their individuality by wearing different styles of clothing and by exploring their own interests such as knitting and painting. Young readers will likely identify with one of the sisters, as their traits are so varied. Snerlings's simple but colorful artwork helps amplify the story line. As the sisters communicate their uniqueness, the colors on the page become less uniform. VERDICT This picture book will appeal to children who love the "Fancy Nancy" and "Pinkalicious" (both HarperCollins) series.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Pippa, Pia, Poppy, Polly, and Peg are as alike as the title would indicate: poppets with naturally curly hair, button-dot features, and patches of color on their cheeks.They behave the same in all things, including spilling their milk, eating (rather messily), and squinching up their eyes while using the potty (an extremely discreet image; only the stray rolls of toilet paper indicate what is going on). And they sleep, each and all, on their backs, each holding a small bunny stuffie and sucking on one little finger. This cannot last, and as they grow older, they throw off the shackles of parental unanimity, starting with their hair: one always wears a crown; another does hers in multiple braids; one uses colored hair gel to great effect; and so on. It doesn't take long for the quints to choose their own clothes, their own hobbies and activities (guitar, painting, knitting, reading, electronic doodads), and their own dreams. When readers see them last, however, they are snuggled all in the same bed with their bunnies and one finger in each mouth, just as when they were babies. Bright color and lively line define their hair and their other attributes as the five figures inhabit the white space of the backgrounds.Adorablethat just about sums it up. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.