Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie (by Norton Juster)

When their granddaughter comes to stay, Nanna and Poppy are never quite sure what mood she will be in. Sometimes she is Sweetie Pie, sometimes Sourpuss, and sometimes both rolled into one.

One of the great wisdoms of SOURPUSS AND SWEETIE PIE is the fact that this is not an either/or situation. Though the little girl can act as one or the other, she is more often both at the same time. And there is really no rhyme or reason to why she swings back and forth. Kids, parents, and grandparents, will chuckle in recognition as they turn from page to page. As in The Hello, Goodbye Window, Chris Raschka's illustrations capture Juster's story perfectly, his colors and strokes changing subtly as the little girl's mood changes. While Sweetie Pie -- with her perky hair, eyes, and mouth -- she is awash in splashes of sunshiny bright colors. Sourpuss is much darker, a mouth turned down, eye's scrunched up, an angry body bathed in darker red, blues, browns, and grays.

And this is not a book just for kids. Readers young and old will be captivated and engaged not only by the artwork but by both the language and the message it carries. Most will find themselves muttering Wow! How many times have I heard (or said) that before? As a sequel, this book is every bit as good as the book it follows; together they are a perfect pair.

Author: Norton Juster
Publisher: Michael Di Capua
Publication date: October 1, 2008
Number of pages: 32
Hardcover price: $16.95
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 6