Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Daisy and Josephine by Melissa Gilbert -- NOT RECOMMENDED

Gilbert, Melissa Daisy and Josephine, illustrated by Julia Kuo. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014. $17.99. Content: G

Daisy and her daddy have a very close relationship. In fact, when he has to go on the road to perform as a singer, Daisy gets to accompany him. Unfortunately, being gone so much of the time means Daisy never has a chance to make friends. Her dad, sensing her loneliness, surprises her with a dog. But Josephine isn't just any old dog. She talks in a French accent, enjoys fashion (but only from French designers, of course), and even sings. Daisy may never be lonely again.

Because Daisy's self-pity and loneliness stem from her life of extreme privilege (a famous father who dotes on her, a fancy private tutor who accompanies her everywhere, lots of money, a glamorous life on the road), it is difficult to have the emotional buy-in to really connect or sympathize with her. And then when Daisy's dog Josephine begins talking to her for no apparent reason, the book takes a turn for the bizarre. Finally, the excessively long text means that Daisy and Josephine takes far longer to read than it should; the word count could have easy been trimmed by a third or even a half.

EL (K-3) -- NOT RECOMMENDED. Reviewer: Caryn

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