Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Friendship tale has sweet message, some gender stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
The kids in IT'S NOT EASY BEING MIMI are a varied bunch, with lots of different interests. Mimi and her beloved cat, Marvin, live on the fourth floor of Periwinkle Tower, above Yoshi on the third floor, Tonya on the second, and their new neighbor, Boris, on the first. Boris doesn't seem to fit into the group, and he irritates Mimi. But when they're partnered up to create the sets for the school play, Mimi learns she has a lot more in common with Boris than she thought. And, when Marvin goes missing in the middle of the play, Mimi is surprised to see who comes to the rescue.
Is It Any Good?
This story is whimsical, funny, and engaging, although the characters tend to fit gender stereotypes. Girls like cats, looking in the mirror, baking, and unicorns, and boys like baseball, music, and dinosaurs. And readers may be puzzled by the unexplained idea that kids live alone and drive their own cars.
The words in It's Not Easy Being Mimi are simple enough for young readers to digest alongside some challenging vocabulary, and the short chapters will give a sense of accomplishment. The moral of the story -- that everyone deserves a chance -- is a great reminder for readers of all levels.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how none of the kids in It's Not Easy Being Mimi has parents. What do you think that would be like? What's the first thing you'd do if you lived alone? What would you like and dislike?
Sometimes the kids have trouble controlling themselves, like Boris with the candy and Mimi with the Advent calendar. What do you have a hard time with?
What other books have characters like Mimi and her friends?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : Adventures , Animals , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Beach Lane Books
- Publication date : December 4, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 176
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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