Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With a delightfully fresh take on the time-proven theme about a family member who feels displaced by a new arrival, Dewdney (Llama, Llama Red Pajama) features a jowly bulldog named Gloria. When the youngest child receives a new doll for her birthday, Gloria is definitely "glum and grumpy./ Out of sorts./ Sad and lumpy." The two older siblings do everything they can to cajole her (while the youngest plays with her doll). They give her a chew, new toys and a brushing, take her for a walk and dress her up in play clothes, but "sullen, scowly, sulky, slumpy.../ Gloria was staying grumpy." Dewdney portrays Gloria's hilariously tragic emotions with ?lan. The dog's brows are furrowed, her nose is wrinkled, and her jaw is rigid, but her indignation and crabbiness never make her less lovable. Readers will figure out the cause before the pair of siblings does; and when Gloria gets bumped from a bicycle basket into the doll's baby buggy, her mood substantially improves. The humor of the book comes through not only in Gloria's facial expressions but also in the lilting descriptions of her feelings. Cleverly, the front endpapers feature the two friends playing together, while the back endpapers add the new doll joining in the same games. The lively descriptions and amusing rhymes will make this a favorite for toddlers who feel left out. Ages 2-up. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-In this sweet story, a bulldog feels replaced when her young owner gets a doll for her birthday, and cannot be comforted by the other two children in the family. Unfortunately, the text is composed of singsong rhymes, mostly lists of single words rather than full sentences, which often seem awkward and do not scan well. Charming little vignettes on the endpapers show the canine and the little girl in happier times: Gloria pulls her in a wagon, watches intently as she blows bubbles, and looks content when she is being petted. Throughout the story, the pup's expressions exude attitude, but the siblings' faces seem a little static even as their body movements capture the action. In several places, the very tops of the children's heads are cut off, creating visuals that look as if the artist ran out of space. Large illustrations done in rich, bright colors are great for viewing at a distance, and the text, if read aloud, could be given expression. Preschoolers will laugh at Gloria's antics and undoubtedly sympathize with her feelings. However, while the author's Llama, Llama Red Pajama (Viking, 2005) is a surefire winner, this effort is an additional purchase.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA (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
After bulldog Gloria's owner receives a new doll, the pup becomes jealous and grumpy. All efforts to cheer her up fail miserably. When she falls into the doll's carriage, though, Gloria realizes ""there's room for two."" Brightly colored, humorously expressive illustrations capture Gloria's scowling and slobbery countenance. Although awkward in places, the rhyming text is filled with descriptive alliteration. (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
A disgruntled bulldog provides fodder for a seriously funny tale from Dewdney. When a new doll replaces Gloria in a young friend's affections, a real sulk ensues. The other children soon attempt the Herculean task of bringing the petulant canine around. However, how to please a peevish pup becomes the question of the day. Tantalizing toys, bubble baths and invigorating jogs all fail to please Gloria. Dewdney wields her comic touch with consummate ease, using jaunty rhymes filled with wordplay to engage young readers. All ends well for the long-suffering Gloria, who is happily reunited with her friend by story's end. The vibrancy of the full-color illustrations serves to capture the reader's attention, while Gloria's woeful expressions are hilarious. Gloria has personality to spare, and her appealingly irascible demeanor earns her a place on the shelf alongside other favored pooches. Bound to be a read-aloud favorite. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
