Review by Booklist Review
Lucy's looking for the perfect place to enjoy her snack, and the comfy branch halfway up a tree is just right. It gets even better when friends stop by with their own snacks to share. Next, Lucy takes her friends on a treasure hunt, and after following the directions, they unearth a special surprise. Finally, in The Hatchlings, Lucy and her friends first find some eggs and then have to find a safe place for them to stay. Dubuc's affable colored-pencil illustrations, straightforward compositions, and episodic stories would make a great introduction for little ones to the concept of chapter books. Beginning with a clearly drawn map of the setting on the endpapers, Dubuc introduces characters, plot, conflict, and perspective in a crystal clear and entertaining manner. Themes of camaraderie, problem-solving, and sharing are intertwined and reiterated throughout as the lovable bunch embark on adventures and discoveries. This multifunctional tale is perfect for a language and storytelling lesson or as a cheery read-aloud.--Greengoss, Annie Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In the first of three sweet-natured stories from Dubuc (The Animals' Ark), Lucy eats her snack on a tree branch, attracting a gang of animal friends: Marcel the mouse, Henry the rabbit, Dot the turtle, and Adrian the snail, who is mistaken for a hazelnut and almost eaten. In the second story, the five go on a treasure hunt. Lucy has the map, and she's the one with the advice. Small, tender observations add piquancy, as when, instructed to take five steps to the left, there's a question from Adrian: "Henry steps or Marcel steps?" The snail, Dubuc points out, doesn't take steps. Simple pencil-and-watercolor pictures show the friends making their way toward the spot, and when Henry digs, sure enough, he finds a present for his birthday. In the third episode, excitement grows as the group discovers three eggs that quickly hatch, later finding an adoptive animal parent whose furry coat and big arms offer the chicks what they need to thrive. Each story features good cheer, tender care among the characters, and the certainty that things will end well. Ages 2-5. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Toddler-PreS-An adventurous girl and her animal friends explore their world of woods, pond, grass, and trees. The first of three stories, "The Snack," is about eating snacks on a comfy tree branch. Marcel the mouse has a lettuce sandwich, but those who look closely will see him sneaking one of Lucy's strawberry biscuits. Dot the turtle has lost her snack. One of Henry the rabbit's hazelnuts is really Adrian the snail, who, after the initial surprise, becomes a new friend. Witty and sweet watercolor and pencil illustrations capture the fun of sharing food and company. In "The Treasure Hunt," all the animals follow Lucy as she searches, with the help of a special map, for buried treasure. In "The Hatchlings," Adrian the snail has found three large eggs. He's not big enough to sit on all of them at once, so Lucy tries and pop! Three bright yellow chicks make a comic escape from their shells. They see Adrian and immediately chirp, "MAMA!" He basks in his maternal duties until he's reminded that the chicks need warmth. A cozy mass of moss is found, but it turns out to be Anton the bear. "PAPA!" the chicks exclaim. This French import is a bit longer than a standard picture book, but its layout and simplicity, along with the division into three chapters, make the pages more readable. VERDICT This lovable collection is a must-read for toddlers and preschoolers.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY © Copyright 2016. 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 appealing Winnie-the-Poohesque story--complete with introductory map highlighting the woodland setting--includes three short episodes about Lucy and her animal friends: a mouse, rabbit, turtle, and snail. They share snacks, go on a treasure hunt, and help three baby chicks find a cozy home with a gruff bear. This lengthy picture book lets readers linger over the adorable cool-colored illustrations. (c) Copyright 2017. 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.
