Review by Booklist Review
In her fifth appearance, little Sophie is feeling shy. Going into the library or a shop, hello is too hard for her to choke out. And forget about thank you, even when the baker gives her a lovely pastry. Her parents, at their wits' end, make Sophie practice talking to her little sister, and even to the George Washington statue in the park. Finally, it's Granny to the rescue. With their parents on a date night, Sophie and sister Jane head off with Granny for ice cream. But as they are about to enter the store, Granny feels a toothache coming on and sends Sophie inside to execute the transaction. With no one standing over her shoulder, Sophie finds she can speak up just fine when she needs to. Once again, Wells uses mouse-girl Sophie as a stand-in Everychild, and tackles a problem that afflicts a wide swath of children. The straightforward text is matched by Wells' rather stolid art, leavened by the whimsy of the mouse cast. Give this to shy little ones or those who just want to speak on their own.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
It's a situation virtually any parent can identify with: Sophie the mouse won't say "hello" or "thank you" in social situations where the words are called for. As in Sophie's previous outings (Use Your Words, Sophie!, among others), Wells shows an uncanny understanding of what Sophie is thinking and feeling ("It was just too embarrassing for Sophie to say those grown-up words"). And once again it's Granny who swoops in with a sly approach: a conveniently timed "toothache" forces Sophie to take the lead at Zeke's Palace of Ice Cream. It's another spot-on portrait of family life, with some very real solutions for frustrated parents and bashful kids. Up to age 3. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Sophie, the little mouse first introduced in Time Out for Sophie, is back. This story starts with an outing to the bakery with Sophie, her mama, and her baby sister, Jane. When Mama asks Sophie to say hello to the baker, the word gets stuck in Sophie's mouth. The corresponding illustration, done in Wells's signature ink and watercolor style, shows Sophie timidly peeking out from behind Mama's coat. After she happily accepts a sweet treat from the baker, "thank you" and "goodbye" won't come out, either. Trips to the park and the library end similarly, with Sophie's shyness around adults causing her to clam up. As in the previous entries in this series, it's Sophie's Granny who finally helps her overcome her obstacles. Once again, Wells expertly captures a common early childhood experience. The warm, colorful art and expressive faces of the characters will draw in readers. VERDICT Fans of this series will not be disappointed. A solid addition.-Kimberly Tolson, Concord Free Public Library, MA © Copyright 2017. 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
This endearing mouse family's fifth book highlights a new hiccup in Sophie's development: she cannot bring herself to say expected social niceties in public. Sophie has good intentions, but social transactions are unbearably awkward. Ink, watercolor, and gouache art in soft pastel hues supplies plenty of humor but also deftly captures Sophie's internal struggles. As usual, smart and stealthy Granny implements a successful solution. (c) Copyright 2017. 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
The delightful mouse Sophie returns, this time to overcome her salutation anxiety with Granny's clever expertise. A tray of crocodile cream puffs beckons in the bakery window, but Sophie cannot find her words. "Hello" just won't come out; while on a hike, "thank you" shrinks "to the size of a pea"; and "please" vanishes "into thin air" at the library. Per her parents' request, Sophie practices, handily greeting her sister, the chickadees, and George Washington's statue. But real-life results remain unchanged until Granny gets wind of the situation, her wise response empowering Sophie to find the answers within. As flowers bloom across the endpages (and on Sophie's pants), they mirror the mouse herself as she finds her voice. The illustrator's exquisite patterning and hand-drawn details offer a timeless appeal, and signature ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations perfectly capture the irrepressible Sophie and her comic sibling sidekick, Jane. Here, no pose or expression is wasted, as each contributes to a comedic beat that builds to a surprise ending, sure to get giggles. This is Wells' work at her bestinsightful, witty, and beautifully drawn. Once again, she adeptly addresses a childhood concern with great respect and humor. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
