Review by Booklist Review
When three girls get together, they quickly don dazzling costumes, but each wants to take playtime in a different direction. In a long gown and a tiara, the first makes a case for playing princess. Wearing fairy wings and carrying a wand, the second suggests magical adventures. Tutu-clad, the third sees them dancing a ballet before an adoring audience. They bicker. They sulk. They look out the window, trade their costumes for rain gear, and take to the sidewalk for puddle stomping and other rainy-day fun. Apparently children aren't the only ones who devote a good bit of their time to negotiations, as the last illustration includes three frogs conversing: Let's play prince. You always want to play prince. How about rock star? The story's structure and well-chosen words create a good framework for the appealing artwork. Using white space effectively, the illustrations feature rounded forms and soft colors with overlays creating varied shades and textures. With eye-catching sparkles in the jacket art, this picture book will quickly find its audience.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When three girls get together on a rainy day, deciding what to play isn't easy. While drab gray clouds hang in the sky outside, inside it's another story-Murguia (Cockatoo, Too) color coordinates each girl's outfit (and dialogue) in cheerful colors. "We shall play princess!" announces a brown-skinned girl with pigtails and a blue gown. "Shh, I have two words for you-Fairy. Dust," responds a redhead in a green fairy outfit with leaves in her shaggy hair. The third girl, with a pink tutu and her blonde hair in a bun, has dance on her mind: "Ballerinas can be beautiful snowflakes or fierce mice." Murguia uses a light touch to explore the frustrations that can result when compromises are nowhere to be found, telling the story through the girls' increasingly combative dialogue and airy pencil-and-watercolor artwork that draws out the magical possibilities in each of their pretend-play interests, while also highlighting their growing anger. The eventual solution-embracing the storm outside, instead of the one brewing indoors-proves that sometimes when nobody "wins," everyone does. Ages 3-5. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-When three friends meet on a rainy day, none can agree on what to play. The first wants to be a royal princess, making royal rules and riding royal unicorns. The second chooses to be a magical fairy, conjuring spells and flying over rainbows. The third prefers to be a ballerina, soaring high above the stage as a graceful swan while an imaginary audience cheers. Even the idea of a contest fails to help them agree, as they argue over whether it should be a flying, throne-sitting, or balancing contest. Angry and disappointed, the girls sulk on opposite corners of the room until the lure of raindrops and puddle stomping entices them to spend the day, hand-in-hand, outside. All ardent fans of anything connected to the regal, magical, and fancifully graceful world of princesses, fairies, and ballerinas will surely gravitate to this story, which further demonstrates how compromise is necessary for any friendship to work. Murguia's gentle pastel colors in varied shades of blue, green, and pink are further enhanced by the sparkly colors on the cover page. One of the most memorable parts of the book is when each friend thrusts forth a symbol of her personal favorite: a blue tiara, a green wand, and a pink toe shoe. There are an abundance of picture books about princesses, fairies, and ballerinas, but fewer that unite all three. VERDICT A surefire hit that should magically fly off the library shelves and emerge a royal success.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY c Copyright 2016. 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 Kirkus Book Review
Three friends each propose the perfect play activity for a rainy day. Gathered together in one house, three smiling girls dress up in costume and offer suggestions for play. Blue dress-up girl wants to "play princess!" because there are so many royal activities. Green dress-up girl wants to play fairy "Because fairy dust means magic spells, and talking frogs." Pink dress-up girl wants to play ballerina because they "can be beautiful snowflakes or fierce mice." Will they have a contest in which they balance or make magic or dine on tea and crumpets to determine the activity? Unable to compromise, they sulk until they look out the window and see a frog hopping by. Good-bye to wings, tiaras, and tutus. Hello to rain boots, umbrellas, and frolicking in the rain. Three frogs who have been hopping around the pages have the last word, however, bringing the story full circle. Watercolor illustrations against a white background depict three expressive and energetic girls who are able to work out their differences, even if they need green amphibian assistance. A pastel-hued rainbow, color-coded text type, and some glitter on the cover are suitable touches. Blue dress-up girl is brown; green dress-up girl and pink dress-up girl are both white. Traditionally minded readers will enjoy the story of three girls who expand their play possibilities. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
