Monday, June 15, 2009

Rita and Whatsit by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod--Book Review



What do you get when a little girl with a big personality teams up with a dog that has no name? A delightful new series of books titled Rita and Whatsit by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod.

In this first book, Rita is celebrating her birthday, but she's in a bad mood and everything is all wrong. And when one of her presents jiggles and bounces across the floor, she yells, "Get back here, present, or you'll regret it!"

Inside is a furry little dog who she right away tries to name. For one reason or another those names won't quite work. Then she settles on "Whatsit". Both Rita and Whatsit decide that's a very good name and the two become fast friends.

What a wonderful beginning to a planned series of children's books! Who can help but love Rita, who has such a powerful personality? Every child has those bad mood days; and with Rita and Whatsit, children find that not only is it normal to have bad mood days, but also that something wonderful can come out of a day that seems like it just isn't working out.

Parents of young children will enjoy reading this story to their children and those children who are beginning to read independently will chuckle at Rita's strong personality and be thrilled to discover Whatsit's secret (I'm not going to share it here).

Rita and Whatsit at the Beach is now available too. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of this one because I want to follow Rita and Whatsit's adventures.


Title: Rita and Whatsit
Author: Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod
Publisher: Chronicle Books, LLC.
ISBN: 978-0-8118-6550-0
SRP: $14.99 (U.S.)

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