Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fanciful story of birthday girl spirited away by penguins.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As we learn in the first line of HARRIET GETS CARRIED AWAY, "Harriet loved costumes," so of course she plans a dress-up party for her birthday. Her dads string lights and blow up balloons, Harriet changes into a penguin costume, and the three head off to pick up party supplies. At the store, Harriet discovers a group of penguins buying bags of ice, and decides to go along for the ride as they travel in hot air balloons to the penguins' icy home. Harriet tries to leave -- she can't be late for her party! -- and meets an orca who gives her a ride back to New York City. The party, complete with a trunk full of costumes for guests, is a wild success.
Is It Any Good?
In one seamless story, this book introduces an exuberant multiracial girl who has two dads, sends her on a fantastic hot-air balloon journey with penguins, and throws her a rollicking rooftop party. Harriet Gets Carried Away's inclusive values are all the more powerful because they're implicit. Author-illustrator Jessie Sima doesn't call particular attention to the fact that Harriet has two dads or that her family and friend group are multiracial; it's simply her accepted, everyday reality. The whimsical fantasy elements of the story are presented as equally unsurprising, and fun and adventurous.
The art's dominated by deep muted purples, and it's easier on the adult eye than Sima's previous book, Not Quite Narwhal, which was in glittery, unicorn-friendly pastels. Some pages have fun perspectives; for instance, a bird's-eye view of a street crossing, and a glimpse through a subway window that shows the dads only in torso. The dads are clearly caring, pictured with a gentle arm around their daughter as they steady her on the subway, and Harriet is just the sort of inventive, resourceful young girl who can serve as a strong model for readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the costumes in Harriet Gets Carried Away. How many different costumes does Harriet wear in the book? Do you like to wear costumes? What are your favorites?
What parts of the story seem real and what parts seem like fantasy? Why do you think Harriet meets penguins when she's in a penguin costume? Why do you think her friend Olivia arrives at the party with a pack of wolves?
How is city living different from living in the suburbs or country? What does the story show city people doing? Have you ever ridden a subway or had a party on a roof?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jessie Sima
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : March 6, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate