 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Absolutely Essential Eloise
- By Kay Thompson
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Eloise loves the Plaza, and kids love this prankster!
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this favorite storybook heroine (now also on TV and DVDs) often has little supervision in the hotel where she lives with a nanny most of the time. Part of her charm is her mischievous nature, but some of her antics -- writing on walls, playing with a fire hose -- may warrant a chat with kids with similar prankster tendencies.
What's the story?
Eloise absolutely loves the Plaza, and kids absolutely love this 6-year-old prankster who knows how to annoy everybody at the hotel. And while the kids are giggling over her antics and the hilarious illustrations, parents will like the sly parody of the adult world. This edition of the original story includes a scrapbook about the author and the illustrator.
Is it any good?
Eloise checks in with the Plaza desk clerk and the mail desk and makes several calls and then loses her skate key among a crowd of people in the elevator without even a period or comma to let a grown-up catch a breath. In black and white and shades of red, Eloise capers, hops, and prances from page to page, her expression changing from sentence to sentence. The annoying antics Eloise dreams up to entertain herself may worry some parents, but her outrageously naughty behavior delights kids. Grown-ups will love the parody of the grown-up world and comments such as, "Oh my Lord I am absolutely so busy I don't know how I can possibly get everything done."
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about Eloise's unique lifestyle. Would you like to live in a hotel? Why do you think Eloise likes to get into trouble?
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| Author: | Kay Thompson |
| Illustrator: | Hilary Knight |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication date: | May 1, 1999 |
| Number of pages: | 80 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
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