Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Four Friends in the Garden by Sue Heap reunites the quartet from Four Friends Together for a lovely day outdoors. When a butterfly alights on some of the pals, their exuberance scares it off. The insect antics make for a busy day before taking a break for lemonade. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Though it lacks the internal cohesion and satisfying conclusion of Four Friends Together (Candlewick, 2003), this follow-up tale nonetheless holds lots of appeal, thanks to Heap's bold, playful acrylic illustrations and lovable characters. Florentina, a great big flowery bear; Rachel, a rabbit; Seymour, a sheep; and a little girl named Mary Clare enjoy the outdoors. When a butterfly lands on Florentina's foot, she calls everyone over to see it, but it flies away before they have a chance. The companions race around the garden chasing it, but the butterfly only comes to see them once they sit still and remain quiet-and by then, Florentina has disappeared. All ends happily, however, as she appears just in time to serve lemonade to her friends and greet the butterfly, which lands on her nose. The interactions among the characters are real and caring, and the simple text and colorful illustrations will work well in toddler storytimes.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia (c) Copyright 2010. 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
A rabbit, sheep, bear, and young girl are outside minding their own business when a butterfly changes the course of their day. Landing briefly on the bear's foot, the butterfly wings away with the four friends close behind. They soon discover that the best way to see a butterfly is to sit still. Though there isn't much of a story, playful illustrations will engage very young readers. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
With colors bright as a summer day and patterns just as cheery, Heap takes her characters from Four Friends Together (2003) on another gentle romp. Florentina, the flowered bear, is on the swing when a beautiful blue butterfly (pleasingly modeled on the rare morpho eugenia) lands on her toe. When she calls her friends to see, it flies off. Mary Clare, Seymour the sheep, and Rachel the rabbit (they actually look like children in a sheep wig and bunny jammies, respectively) chase it towards the lemon tree and the rose bush, but end up sitting, hot and tired. The butterfly returns when the children are still, and Florentina brings lemonade for all. Besides making a simple and quite engaging story, Heap's acrylics employ wonderful design: the rose bush is a pink tree with rosy swirls; the lemon tree stitched with whole lemons. Very nice. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
