Review by Kirkus Book Review
An imaginative little girl turns ordinary items into a menagerie of friends. With Dad out shopping and Mom busy at work elsewhere in the house, the child has the opportunity for some delightfully uninterrupted playtime. She gets to work, inviting her pals Mr. Elephant, Miss Woodpecker, Mr. Hedgehog, Mrs. Peacock, and Mr. Giraffe. These animals, quite real to the girl, are actually creations fashioned from inventively repurposed household materials. Mr. Elephant's trunk is a paper-covered vacuum hose; Mr. Hedgehog's spikes are pins in a pincushion. It's not until her parents return that the spell is broken; the objects must be returned to their places until the girl has more time to play. The illustrations, relying on a limited palette of soft, muted browns and pops of more vibrant colors, depict weathered and tattered items coming to life. The animals' stripes are the blue lines of notebook paper; bright red accents can be found on the girl's dress and the tops of the straight pins. The uncomplicated text conveys the simplicity and joy of childhood play. Little readers will enjoy looking for the household objects in the illustrations and will eagerly jump in and imagine. The child is light-skinned. Highlights the boundless potential of a child's creativity, no toys or tablets required.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
