Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The instant Molly tells Olive a secret and Olive solemnly swears, "I will never tell," readers will know it's really only a matter of time (or pages) before Olive spills. No matter-British author/illustrator Freeman's brisk storytelling and comically expressive cast of anthropomorphic animals make an all-too-familiar situation feel fresh. Freeman underscores the chain reaction of Molly's secret being passed from one set of loose lips to another ("This secret was really hard to keep!") as new locales and players appear with each page turn. The stagelike composition and the characters' penchant for theatrical gestures (including a spit-take in the swimming pool) keep the mood as light as a French farce while still conveying sympathy for Molly-and empathy for the tough task of being a secret keeper. Even when Molly is allowed her moment of anger, it's clear that the group's social fabric is being stretched, not torn asunder. And while Freeman refuses to officially divulge Molly's secret ("Well, I'd like to tell you, but... IT'S A SECRET!"), hints on the endpapers should satisfy curious readers. Ages 4-7. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Even before the title page, readers see little hearts flowing out of Molly's floppy ears with an onomatopoetic "sigh." The author gives away the secret, but leaves readers with a question. Who does the rabbit like? She whispers the name in Olive's ear, and the cat affirms wide-eyed, "I will never tell." The page layouts are without frames, but grounded horizontally on soft shadows or beautifully rendered on muted backgrounds, allowing the action to run like a relay race through the pages. The secret gets passed from cat to giraffe to badger to turtle, and so on, and readers can chuckle and waggle their fingers witnessing this blatant divulging, astutely expressed with only handfuls of words. Young children will be riveted by this masterfully paced, puppy-love drama, played out with an array of quirky animals in contemporary comic style. The measure of individuality is each character's ability to keep a secret. There is the gossipmonger, the one who does not care, the one who tries to keep a secret, and the one who doesn't. The graphics are bold and childlike, and the font size is large. When it is clear that someone blabbed, Molly goes straight to the source and confronts Olive, who is remorseful, at least for a moment. A delightful, surefire conversation starter on the do's and don'ts of secrets among friends.-Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School, NY (c) Copyright 2012. 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 Kirkus Book Review
A simple story of a secret that slips out. Olive hears the secret from Molly. Sorely tempted, Olive manages not to share the information immediately but can't contain herself indefinitely. So she spills the beans to Joe. Joe tells Matt, and Matt tells Bea and Lola. Then Lola hurries off to share the news with her best friend, (wait for it) Molly. Miffed, Molly turns on Olive with a frown. So far readers have remained in the dark as to the exact nature of the secret, though some may have noticed a clue in the illustrations. Although the author coyly refuses to blab, Olive reveals all when she urges readers to peek at the final page. Freeman's straightforward text sets a steady pace and leaves plenty of room for her pictures to expand the action. Each child is shown as a different animal in the carefully composed, mixed-media illustrations, but their pursuits and behavior are entirely human. Rounded bodies, large heads and small extremities emphasize the mild humor and allow emotions to be clearly conveyed. Though the story is slight, some young listeners may enjoy tracing the path the secret travels, while parents will appreciate the opportunity to talk about friendship and trust. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
