Say Hello, Sophie

Starred review from February 20, 2017
It’s a situation virtually any parent can identify with: Sophie the mouse won’t say “hello” or “thank you” in social situations where the words are called for. As in Sophie’s previous outings (Use Your Words, Sophie!, among others), Wells shows an uncanny understanding of what Sophie is thinking and feeling (“It was just too embarrassing for Sophie to say those grown-up words”). And once again it’s Granny who swoops in with a sly approach: a conveniently timed “toothache” forces Sophie to take the lead at Zeke’s Palace of Ice Cream. It’s another spot-on portrait of family life, with some very real solutions for frustrated parents and bashful kids. Up to age 3. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

Starred review from January 1, 2017
The delightful mouse Sophie returns, this time to overcome her salutation anxiety with Granny's clever expertise. A tray of crocodile cream puffs beckons in the bakery window, but Sophie cannot find her words. "Hello" just won't come out; while on a hike, "thank you" shrinks "to the size of a pea"; and "please" vanishes "into thin air" at the library. Per her parents' request, Sophie practices, handily greeting her sister, the chickadees, and George Washington's statue. But real-life results remain unchanged until Granny gets wind of the situation, her wise response empowering Sophie to find the answers within. As flowers bloom across the endpages (and on Sophie's pants), they mirror the mouse herself as she finds her voice. The illustrator's exquisite patterning and hand-drawn details offer a timeless appeal, and signature ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations perfectly capture the irrepressible Sophie and her comic sibling sidekick, Jane. Here, no pose or expression is wasted, as each contributes to a comedic beat that builds to a surprise ending, sure to get giggles. This is Wells' work at her best--insightful, witty, and beautifully drawn. Once again, she adeptly addresses a childhood concern with great respect and humor. (Picture book. 2-6)

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February 1, 2017

PreS-Sophie, the little mouse first introduced in Time Out for Sophie, is back. This story starts with an outing to the bakery with Sophie, her mama, and her baby sister, Jane. When Mama asks Sophie to say hello to the baker, the word gets stuck in Sophie's mouth. The corresponding illustration, done in Wells's signature ink and watercolor style, shows Sophie timidly peeking out from behind Mama's coat. After she happily accepts a sweet treat from the baker, "thank you" and "goodbye" won't come out, either. Trips to the park and the library end similarly, with Sophie's shyness around adults causing her to clam up. As in the previous entries in this series, it's Sophie's Granny who finally helps her overcome her obstacles. Once again, Wells expertly captures a common early childhood experience. The warm, colorful art and expressive faces of the characters will draw in readers.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2017
This endearing mouse family's fifth book highlights a new hiccup in big sister Sophie's development that many parents and children will recognize: she cannot bring herself to say expected social niceties like hello, please, and thank you in public. Meanwhile, in sharp contrast, baby sister Jane, who is so small she is still pink, chatters ba-ba in unprompted baby-talk greeting and response at the bakery, the park, and the library. Neither deliberately rude nor stubborn, Sophie has good intentions, but all the public prodding from her frustrated parents makes social transactions unbearably awkward. Goodbye and Thank you wouldn't come out. We are going to have to practice Big Girl Hello and Big Girl Thank You, Sophie, ' said Mama. But it was just too embarrassing for Sophie to say those grown-up words. The art, done in ink, watercolor, and gouache in soft pastel hues, supplies plenty of humor but also deftly captures Sophie's internal struggles in public (compared with her confidence in private) through her posture and expressions. As usual, smart and stealthy Granny recognizes the essence of the situation and implements a successful solution, but baby Jane, humorously, gets the last word. Both adults and children familiar with this common impediment to making polite conversation will find comfort here, as well as some valuable insight and advice. julie roach

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)