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Parents' Guide to

Absolutely Essential Eloise

By Jennifer Gennari, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Eloise loves the Plaza, and kids love this prankster!

Book Kay Thompson Picture Book 1999
Absolutely Essential Eloise Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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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?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The annoying antics Eloise dreams up to entertain herself may worry some parents, but her outrageously naughty behavior delights kids. 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. 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."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

Book Details

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