Marshmallow

Cuddly but longer read-aloud perfect for bedtime.

Author: Clare Newberry Illustrator: Clare Newberry Pages: 32 Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books Published Date: 01/08/2008 Genre: Fiction - Picture Book HC Price: $16.99 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 4-8 Read Aloud: 4 Read Alone: 6 Awards: Caldecott Honor Book

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this award-winner from 1943 deserves its classic status.

Families can talk about everyone's adjustment to a new situation. How does Marshmallow the bunny adjust to his new home? What about Oliver who's used to living alone? And what about Miss Tilly? How do her poems reflect the changes in her feelings about having a pet bunny?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Dawn Friedman

There's a reason that this book has lasted so long in print. From the stellar illustrations to the somewhat long-winded but sweet story, it's a picture book that resonates with kids. Miss Tilly brings fluffy bunny Marshmallow home to live with her tabby cat Oliver. The book charts the small family's adjustment to one another with lots of homey details and enough subtle insight to weather repeated readings.

With themes small kids can really understand -- missing mommy, making friends, feeling scared of new situations -- and a perfectly happy ending, MARSHMALLOW is the perfect bedtime read-aloud, especially with the cuddly pictures. The only downside is that the book is long. Some kids won't have the patience to sit through the whole story, but even then parents can use the pictures to pick and choose what to share in the text. Again, try the book at night when kids are winding down and might be willing to listen to a longer story.

From The Book

However, Marshmallow cheered up a bit when he had his dinner -- a raw carrot and a bowl of rolled oats. The bowl said DOG on it, for the shop did not have any dishes with RABBIT or BUNNY on them. But as Marshmallow could not read, this did not much matter.