Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This appealing beginning reader introduces two best pals, Fats the pig and Skinny the rabbit, as well suited to each other as Meister's (When Tiny Was Tiny) buoyant narrative and Bjorkman's (Aliens for Breakfast; Aliens for Lunch) affectionate pictures (a highlight of which is Skinny's Hawaiian shirt sporting a carrot motif). Three chapters offer stand-alone tales. In the first, Fats tells Skinny that he is his best friend, and clever Skinny responds with clues as to the identity of his best friend. Bjorkman's playful black line and watercolor wash ensures that Skinny's clues never seem coy or mean-spirited (despite clue #3, "My best friend is very, very fat"). In the other capers, the duo uses a chair, a spring and an alarm clock to build a rocket that they hope will take them to Mars, and Skinny kindly consoles Fats when their contraption catapults them no farther than a backyard tree. Skinny concocts an unorthodox, rabbit-rousing marshmallow pie (calling for carrot cookies and carrot sauce) in the final episode; a recipe for a far more kid-pleasing recipe (containing graham crackers, chocolate sauce and marshmallows) closes the volume. Short, staccato sentences featuring well-placed repetition (Fats repeatedly taps his head-"Tap, tap, tap"-while thinking) make this a sprightly and appetizing morsel for picture-book graduates eager for longer fare. The characters' humorously exaggerated facial expressions alone will have budding readers laughing along with the good-humored pals. Ages 5-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-In the first book, Skinny, a rabbit, and Fats, a pig, do everything together, from fishing to making marshmallow pie to building rockets. The three stories are funny, and the accompanying cartoons convey the humor of these situations. Although Meister's characters are engaging and are accepting of who they are, it is unfortunate that their names reflect their body types. Still, Skinny and Fats is a fun addition for beginning-reader collections. In the second title, two kittens are invited to spend the weekend with their grandparents picking apples and baking pies. Harry is excited, but Emily is less so as she thinks apples are "Yuck!" The four adventures from this weekend all revolve around apples. Ruelle's child-centered dialogue, gentle humor, and simple watercolor illustrations make this an ideal choice for readers not quite ready for chapter books.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR (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
This book about Fats the pig and Skinny the rabbit attempts to replicate Frog and Toad's friendship but doesn't quite make it. Still, their small adventures and breezy illustrations will keep kids reading, especially the last chapter, in which Skinny insists on making marshmallow pie with carrots rather than the chocolate that Fats specifies. A recipe for this concoction (the chocolate version) is provided. From HORN BOOK Spring 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. 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
Meister, author of the Tiny the dog stories (Tiny the Snow Dog, 2001, etc.), offers a mid-level easy reader about two best friends, a dimwitted pig called Fats and a smart rabbit called Skinny. Three short chapters focus on their friendship: their decision to be best friends, an ill-fated but funny plot to fly to Mars via a spring-loaded chair, and Skinny's creation of a carrot cookie pie instead of the famous marshmallow pie that is the pig's specialty. (A simple recipe for a gooey marshmallow pie is included on the final page.) The stories utilize the same sort of teasing best-friends relationship that Frog and Toad or Bert and Ernie share, with hints of deadpan humor that young readers will like. Bjvrkman's jaunty, loose watercolors add to the overall effect, especially the amusing expressions on the animal's faces. Despite the work's strengths, many adults will take issue with the choice of names and the characterization of the pig as "very, very fat." In fact, he is just about as plump as a healthy pig should be. Name-calling and weight problems are real issues in the elementary school world, and it's unfortunate that Fats and Skinny have names that serve as labels for their weight. (Easy reader. 6-8)
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