Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After a mother gives five cherries to her two children, eating them is almost the farthest thing from their minds. Initially, Italian author-illustrator Facchini appears to be setting up a Goofus and Gallant scenario in her U.S. debut. "What am I gonna do with only 5 cherries?" moans one child. The other is grateful and excited: "Thanks, Mom, all these? So many?" But both quickly fall under the spell of the cherries, and they regale each other (and readers) with their ever-changing plans for them. "I'll be a jester! And I'll do a jiggety-jester-jig," shouts one, dancing with abandon as the long-stemmed berries resemble the dangling bells of a jester's cap. The other child takes a quieter path on a opposite page, setting up an impromptu imaginary tea party. The children's genders aren't specified, and they're so similar in appearance that it isn't always clear who's who-and it doesn't matter in the least. Facchini's wildly expressive paintings-part Ralph Steadman, part Chris Raschka-immerse readers in the siblings' vivid scenarios, games, and interactions. It's a vibrant reminder of the almost boundless capacity of a child's imagination. Ages 5-8. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
After a mom gives her two sons five cherries apiece, they compare notes on what to do with them: "I'll give my super cannons super cherry ammunition! / And I'll make a super cherry pie." It's a droll (if over-extended) premise, and dynamic illustrations full of visible brushstrokes and colorful smears reflect the brotherly drama; too bad it's frequently hard to tell the brothers apart. (c) Copyright 2018. 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 mother gives her two unnamed children five cherries eachthey won't last long. Or will they? The children are identicalwhite with dark, straight hair in bowl cuts, both wearing black-and-white-striped tops and black pantsexcept for the ribbons tied around their outsized heads (one red, one blue) and their shoes (black Mary Janes and white sneakers, respectively), so smudgily painted many readers will miss them. As they play, they shed both ribbons and shoes, becoming nigh indistinguishable. At first they are very different in attitude, though. One complains, "What am I gonna do with only 5 cherries?" The other celebrates: "I'm gonna do a ton of things with these 5 cherries." Though the blue-ribboned child declares, "I'm gonna eat them all at once," while stuffing them in, there's a lot more playing than eating going on. Readers will wonder whether Mom, off-page, supplies more, or perhaps the children pick them for themselves, as the cherries seem not to run out, at least not permanently, and they take a lot of punishment. The fruits are used as pretend medals, ammunition in toy cannon, pie filling, andin a perfectly childlike momenttiny pretend breasts, among other deployments. The children move beyond stereotypical gendered play to creative endeavors, harmoniously cooperative in their absorption. Painterly figures against plenty of white spaceand those gorgeous, red cherriesinvite readers into their own fruit-fueled fantasies. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
