Pink Me Up

January 18, 2010
Harper (the Fashion Kitty series) delivers a frothy tale that will most appeal to girls with an untiring love of all things pink. Clad ears to toe in that color, a rabbit is excited that the day of the “Pink Girls Pink-nic” has arrived, until Mama wakes up sick (“Why is Mama wearing pink spots? Did you put them on specially for the party?”). When Daddy offers to accompany the girl instead, she'll have none of it, exclaiming “Boys are NOT pink!” A pink necktie isn't quite enough, but after he announces, “We just have to pink me up,” she decorates his clothes with pink marker, tape, and stickers and deems him “perfectly pink.” He's a hit at the party—and she's the envy of all her friends. Rendered in acrylic, Harper's characteristically unadorned, childlike cartoons add to the book's whimsy and rosy exaggeration (exclamation points and the color pink go hand in hand, and both are used with abandon). Even readers who aren't as single-minded when it comes to colors will empathize with the heroine's emotional highs and lows. Ages 5–8.

April 1, 2010
PreS-KViolet is looking forward to attending the "Pink Girls Pink-nic" with her mom. Dressed from head to toe in her favorite color, she thinks about the crafts they will make and the games they will play. All that changes when her mom wakes up that morning covered with pink spots. The only other female in the family is the cat, but Pinky can't take her. Fortunately, Violet's dad doesn't mind wearing pink for the day, and, of course, he's the hit of the party. Rendered in acrylics, the illustrations are humorous and lively. Fans of Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann's "Pinkalicious" (HarperCollins, 2006) will enjoy this pink-themed tale."Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2010
Preschool-G Harper, author of the Just Grace and Fashion Kitty books, has targeted a slightly younger audience for her foray into the world of girls passionately in love with pink. In this confection, full of bubblegum color, a small bunny is looking forward to a pink-nic with other pink girls and their moms. Alas, her own bunny mother has come down with a pink-dotted illness, and Dad is recruited to attend the everything-rosy affair. Tragically, his only pink possession is a tie. In a flurry of creativity, after he suggests his daughter pink me up, the small girl uses pink tape to put stripes on his pants, pink stickers to liven up his jacket, and more. Soon Dad is, she proclaims, Perfectly pink. But not as pink as me! Harpers pictures have a flat, childlike quality, and the story moves along in vignettes that mimic the style of a graphic novel. This is sure to be a hit wherever girls prefer pinkand isnt that just about everywhere?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2010
Little rabbit Violet's mama is sick. Alas, Daddy, who owns exactly one item of pink clothing--a tie--and is a boy, will have to accompany Violet to the Pink Girls Pink-nic. How they have "the best day--EVER!" will inspire kids to think creatively when faced with a change in plans. Harper's slyly humorous acrylic art conveys Violet's pure joy.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)