Brownie and Pearl Grab a Bite

From the Publisher

"Fans of this perfect preschool fare will once again delight in the series’ playful treatment of the everyday activities.... Biggs’ boldly colored, digital art is presented in clean, clear compositions that make good use of white space...to highlight the playful action of the story rather than the domestic setting. The use of white, however, is perhaps most effective in the pleasing final spread showing both friends licking off thick milk mustaches. The short, carefully crafted sentence can also support beginning readers in their efforts to decode text. A satisfying addition to a consistently strong series. Bon appetit."

—Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2011

"Biggs’s vibrant illustrations fill out the spare text with details: Brownie’s dress has an apple, pear, and orange pattern; the blue wallpaper has a citrus-slice pattern; and so on...preschoolers will enjoy the friendship and older children may memorize the short, simple text to build pre-reading skills. A solid addition to the series."

—School Library Journal, August 2011

"The distinctive digital artwork uses bold lines, clearly defined shapes, and pleasing colors to create a homey setting for this likeable duo. With short, simple lines of text in large type, this picture book will please beginning readers as well as younger fans of the Brownie & Pearl series."

—Booklist, September 1, 2011

Children's Literature - Claudia Mills

Nobody does friendship stories better than Cynthia Rylant, whether she is writing about Henry and Mudge, Mr. Putter and Tabby, or Brownie and Pearl. In this latest installment of her picture book series, designed for the very youngest of listeners, a little girl, Brownie, and her inseparable feline companion, Pearl, decide to "grab a bite" for lunch. Both friends like all the same things—string cheese, apples, saltines, milk—and both enjoy playing with their food as much as they enjoy eating it, but they eat and play in different ways: Pearl likes to box with her string cheese and roll her apple along the floor; Brownie likes to nibble her saltines into letter shapes: "Look—P is for Pearl!" Rylant's extremely brief text (fewer than one hundred words) is perfectly paired with Biggs's colorful, boldly outlined illustrations. Even the simplest meal can become a wonderful treat when eaten in the company of a beloved friend, and when shared through an expertly crafted picture book collaboration. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1—Brownie and her cat, Pearl, are ready for lunch. They peer into the refrigerator, and Brownie selects some "stringy cheese." On the following page, Pearl is busy eating and playing with it. Next they find apples in a bowl on the counter, and Pearl rolls one on the floor. From the pantry Brownie chooses saltines and bites them into shapes: "P is for Pearl!" She pours milk into a glass for herself and into a dish for her pet. The book concludes, "Eat, eat. Drink, drink. Lick, lick. Yum." Biggs's vibrant illustrations fill out the spare text with details: Brownie's dress has an apple, pear, and orange pattern; the blue wallpaper has a citrus-slice pattern; and so on. While there is not much of a story, preschoolers will enjoy the friendship and older children may memorize the short, simple text to build pre-reading skills. A solid addition to the series.—Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI