Synopsis
Tallulah’s present is not what she asked for. And it’s not what the other kids have. Would she be better off without him?
When no one can find a pink fluffy rabbit to buy for Tallulah on her birthday, Grandma gets creative with her knitting needles. But the surprise Tallulah lifts out of the box is not a rabbit, it’s a pink fluffy . . . thing, named Milo Armadillo. He’s athletic, musical, and great for sharing adventures, but Tallulah’s friends say he’s funny-looking. What can poor Milo do to make Tallulah happy? With humor, poignancy, and a nod to the out-of-the-ordinary, this sweet story shows that if you can’t be with the one you want, you can definitely love the armadillo you’re with.
Children's Literature
All Tallulah wanted for her birthday was a pink fluffy rabbit like those of her friends, but there do not seem to be any available. So her grandma tries to knit her one. Tallulah is distressed to find that the finished creature is Milo Armadillo. She tries to make the best of it. At first Tallulah finds Milo not quite as good as a rabbit. Milo tries to become more like a rabbit, with hilarious results, but in vain. He finally decides to go back and ask Grandma to unravel him. When Tallulah finds him missing, she realizes that she really wants him. She follows his loose thread to Grandma's. His tail fixed, Milo goes back home happily with Tallulah. The end pages are totally covered with knitted pink stitches while pink yarn rolls across some pages. Mixed media single and double-page scenes plus vignettes of the imaginative adventures depict with humor Tallulah's gradual appreciation of her eager new toy. Sketchy outlines and minimal detail are frequently surrounded by collage, adding visual interest to the heart-warming story. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz