Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Endpapers picturing a squat little dog poised at the just-opening gates of the palatial Small Hall beckon readers into a delightfully nonsensical caper with Paul and Sally Small. On the night of a grand ball, Mum and Dad tuck their children into bed, but the duo (and Paul's teddy bear, Mr. Puddles) cannot resist watching the light-filled room from a grand staircase. Despite Sally's warning, Mr. Puddles falls downstairs, and the children whoosh down the banister to find him. Mingling adults are oblivious to the children scooting from one strange hiding place to the next until the children swing from the chandelier for a better view. When Paul and Sally find Mr. Puddles in the jaws of their dog, they're off again in hot pursuit. Stephens' art is a tour de force, capturing the havoc as the now-stunned party crowd gazes at the oblivious children: We got him back . . . and nobody even saw. This subtle ending, with its irony not immediately apparent, speaks eloquently to the essence of universal childhood experiences. A throwback to old-timey picture books in the very best sense, Stephens' sketchy lines and gentle, fluid watercolors bring to mind the work of Ludwig Bemelmans. A deliciously satisfying romp.--Austin, Patricia Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Stephens (Fleabag) opens with an ordinary scene, a pair of pajama-clad children spying on a grownup gathering. "They crept onto the stairs. Paul held up his teddy, Mr. Puddles, so he could see the party starting downstairs too. `He'll fall,' warned Sally... but it was too late." This is no ordinary house, though. Stephens's imaginary Small Hall is a British estate on the scale of Versailles, with fountains, chandeliers, and a staff of liveried servants. The opulence only adds to the excitement as Sally and Paul set off joyously to rescue Mr. Puddles, hiding under the lid of a large serving dish, shimmying up a statue, and swinging across the dining room table. Stephens's ink-and-wash drawings channel Edward Ardizzone and Quentin Blake, reaching their zenith with a magnificent foldout spread of the dining room. The glittering fixtures of the Small's stately home and the cheery liberties Paul and Sally take with them (adults stay conveniently out of the way) are at the very heart of childhood fantasy. Stephens's story casts that rare spell-the feeling of finding a lost childhood favorite. Ages 4-8. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Sally and Paul Small live in Small Hall, a very large manor house. It's an exciting place with its fountain and pool, numerous rooms, large furnishings, and frequent parties and other special events. Curiosity gets the better of the children one evening when the Grand Ball is being held in their home. As they secretly view the proceedings from their top-of-the-stairs vantage point, Paul drops his teddy bear among the guests. He, his sister, and their corgi go in search of the missing toy. The brother and sister appear to change from normal-size children into miniatures as they scout around the ballroom, the kitchen, the dining room, and a storage room. They attempt to hide from the guests under the lid of a large platter, inside the candelabras, and behind a vase. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are the highlight of this slight story and show the many activities of the children, who assume that no one has spotted their antics, and the smiling faces of the adults who have witnessed them all. Not the author's best, this mild tale will most likely be shared once with no requested repeats.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (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 Horn Book Review
Paul and Sally--the children of Small Hall--can't resist sneaking out of bed the night their parents throw a gala. Stephens's adroitly choreographed joke is the kids' presumption that the havoc they wreak in their search for a lost teddy bear goes undetected by partygoers; the illustrations--which give Small Hall a Downton Abbey look--tell another story. (c) Copyright 2012. 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.
