FICTION

Sophie's Terrible Twos

by Rosemary WELLS
illus. by author. 32p. Viking. Feb. 2014. RTE $16.99. ISBN 9780670785124. LC 2013014733.
COPY ISBN
PreS—When Sophie "gets up on the wrong side of the crib" on her second birthday, Mama tries to cheer her up with a new pink dress and Daddy tries to chase the blues away with blueberry pancakes. Her rotten mood persists until Granny says, "Let's hit the road!" and they take a wild ride on Sophie's "Push-Me-Pull-You Motorcycle." A ferocious sabre-toothed tiger suit turns out to be just the thing the youngster needs to tame her temper. Sophie, clad in her "terrible tiger" costume, enjoys cake with her family, and when Granny asks her how old she is, the toddler raises two claws in the air and triumphantly announces, "Terrible Two!" Wells's beloved illustrations and her characteristic wit are pitch-perfect for this humorous family drama. Parents and children alike will be able to identify with Sophie's grumpiness and appreciate that sometimes the only one who can make things better is Granny.—Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH
On her second birthday, Sophie wakes up crabby. Nothing makes her happy: not a pretty dress from Mama, not sparkly fairy wings, not Daddy's Birthday Blueberry Pancakes. Wise Granny knows just how to channel Sophie's beastly behavior: "How about a sabre-toothed tiger suit?" Tiger Sophie feels fierce and powerful, which puts little-girl Sophie in a much better mood. Wells's good-humored illustrations nicely highlight her characters' emotions.
Sophie wakes up on the wrong side of the crib the morning of her second birthday. Nothing makes this mouse-child happy: not a pretty dress from Mama ("No pink!"), not sparkly fairy wings, not Daddy's Birthday Blueberry Pancakes ("No blueberries inside the pancakes!"), not talking alphabet blocks from Granny. The day is headed in a crabby direction, so Granny tries a change of scene. As she did in Time-Out for Sophie (rev. 1/13), wise Granny knows just how to reach her granddaughter and channel her beastly two-year-old behavior. Wells's good-humored illustrations highlight her characters' emotions and give young viewers entree into the narrative. After a failed visit to a toy store, Granny makes a perceptive suggestion: "How about a sabre-toothed tiger suit?" Tiger Sophie feels fierce and powerful, which puts little-girl Sophie in a much better mood--just in time for cake. kitty flynn
Reviewed by Jenna Boles , Jan 01, 2014

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