Review by Booklist Review
The star of the modern classic Imogene's Antlers returns! Every morning her family, including their inquisitive cat and dog, anticipate the girl's altered image as she emerges from her bedroom. At intervals, she has sported antlers, a lovely peacock tail, and a spotted giraffe neck. Rather than being simply a distraction, each transformation has benefited Imogene's family and friends: the elephant trunk enables the girl to assist with watering the garden, and the long giraffe neck is helpful in retrieving a kitten stuck in a tree. Though the child deals with her metamorphoses with equanimity, the stress causes her mother to declare, "No child of mine will be a beast, a bird, or a bug!!!" Her words ring true on the morning that child comes to breakfast looking just like Imogene . . . but with an even bigger surprise awaiting the family. Small's pastel pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations vary in size and depict dramatic emotions and movement. The humorous pictures and the entertaining tale will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Thirty-five years after she sprouted antlers and peacock feathers, Imogene, that far pluckier version of Gregor Samsa, awakens, and "it appeared that the parade of peculiarities would proceed." It begins with Imogene acquiring a giraffe's neck; then comes an elephant's nose and ears, followed by butterfly wings. This time, there's no period of adjustment--Imogene is an old hand by now, and her self-possession is one of the book's delights. Her patrician family remains beyond nonplussed (her mother swoons; her father suggests, "Send her to art school!"), while the household staff is quick to spot the utility of it all: Mrs. Perkins puts elephantized Imogene to work watering the garden. Small's pen, ink, and watercolor drawings are as sly as ever, rendered in creamy tones befitting Imogene's posh lifestyle and punctuated by sublime goofiness--and reminding readers that being able to roll with change is a useful part of transformation. Ages 3--7. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--This is a charming follow-up to Small's Imogene's Antlers. It all starts one day when Imogene wakes up to find that a pair of antlers had grown on her head overnight. The next day, a peacock's tail has sprouted. This parade of peculiarities is only just beginning. Every day Imogene wakes up with a new surprise. The excitement is just too much for her family, especially her poor mother who simply can't cope. True to herself despite the curious new features, Imogene is able to find the best in every situation. While sporting a long giraffe neck, she discovers a lost football. With her elephant trunk, she is able to water the entire garden. Despite Imogene's positive attitude, it is all too much for her family, and just as they are about to give up and send her away, Imogene wakes up as herself without any additions. And then there's a twist! The illustrations are soft and colorful in Small's signature style. VERDICT This sweet and funny story has an important message about acceptance. A highly recommended purchase, especially for fans of the first book.--Elizabeth Blake, Fields Corner Lib., Dorchester, MA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Imogene has many peculiarities, but she carries them with great aplomb. She has a long history of growing, albeit temporarily, animal appendages. Her most famous animal accouterments were a huge rack of antlers and a lovely display of peacock feathers, as seen in Imogene's Antlers (1985). She is a curious child, always eager to see what the day brings, perhaps more antlers or something new and different. When she wakes up with a giraffe's long neck and horns, her family is "stupefied," but she is delighted. In fact, she uses her new height to find her brother's football and helps her neighbor's kitten down from a tree. Another day she sports an elephant head and trunk, happily helping one of the servants water flowers. When she flies about on her butterfly wings, her mother reacts in anger and embarrassment to her daughter's multiple transformations. Imogene relishes her uniqueness and uses it wisely and kindly. When Imogene returns to her normal self, everyone is ecstatic. But then something amazing and totally unexpected happens. Small has great fun resurrecting this iconic character. Sharp-eyed readers will notice toy animals that influence Imogene's appearance. She and her family and neighbors present White and have a privileged status. Oddly, even though the cook and the kitchen maid have the same names as the White-appearing characters in the first book, here in at least one illustration they appear to be people of color, though the brownness of their skin varies from page to page--an unnecessary and off-putting change. Charming Imogene is one of a kind, but the original is still the better work. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
