Common Sense Note
The author has combined story, writing, and art perfectly in this winning tale. Children will cheer for Owen as he outwits his neighbor time after time.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Sally Snyder
Many children face the crisis of having to give up their treasured blanket or teddy bear. They will relate to Owen's firm determination to resist all attempts to separate him from his blanket, Fuzzy.
Kevin Henkes has a special knack for presenting these common childhood crises tenderly and humorously. Children will relish the fact that Owen, a child, outwits both his parents and the neighbor--a rare victory from a child's point of view.
Henkes's expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture Owen's every mood, and Mrs. Tweezers looks appropriately conspiratorial, while his parents are loving yet befuddled. The spacing of text and art provide an open feeling to the story.
One to three illustrations per page are framed with a white border, and some drawings include clever touches that enhance the story. Parents may notice the mouse version of the classic painting The Scream (which suitably reflects Owen's despair) hanging on Owen's wall.
The endpapers show four repeating images of Owen celebrating with Fuzzy. They set the mood of camaraderie at the beginning and echo the joy after the story ends.
Geraldine's Blanket, by Holly Keller, is another look at giving up a favorite blanket in which the title pig solves the problem herself.
From The Book
When Owen wasn't looking, his father dipped Owen's favorite corner of Fuzzy into a jar of vinegar. Owen sniffed it and smelled it and sniffed it. He picked a new favorite corner. Then he rubbed the smelly corner all around his sandbox, buried it in the garden, and dug it up again. "Good as new," said Owen.
Plot Summary:
Give up his blanket! Owen won't even consider the possibility. Nosy neighbor Mrs. Tweezers thinks it's time Owen relinquishes his Fuzzy and offers suggestions, but his mother comes to the rescue. Parents and children will enjoy the battle of wits between Owen and Mrs. Tweezers. Engaging characters and illustrations ensure this book will not disappoint.
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