That Makes Me Mad!

Publishers Weekly

Nina's ire is stirred by her own limitations, by adults' underestimation, by rules and by toys that insist on getting lost. Kroll (The Biggest Pumpkin Ever), who first published this text in 1976, catalogs these and other peeves with sympathy and honesty, while Davenier (The First Thing My Mama Told Me, reviewed April 22) contributes shimmering, balletically brushstroked spot watercolors that trace the heroine's tempest-tossed internal state. "When you get mad at me and it's not my fault, that makes me mad," Nina says, the titular refrain spelled out in bold type. The words lead into a bathtub drama, in which Nina is left in charge of Tony, her toddler brother and co-bather. As Tony gradually floods the floor (Davenier sends ribbons of translucent blue color flying from the tub and Tony's mouth) Nina's countenance grows stormier, then changes to indignant when her mother holds her responsible. This pattern repeats with scenarios familiar to children and parents everywhere, each rendered respectfully by the artist, who still manages to uncover the humor in each situation. Can Nina's wrath ever be defused? The last spread supplies the answer: "But it makes me feel better when you let me tell you how angry I am!" A warm embrace with her mother on the final page proves that when her frustrations are acknowledged, even Nina can't stay angry for long. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1-A story published in 1976 (Random; o.p.), newly illustrated. Nina talks about all of the things that really make her mad, which is just about everything. It angers her when her dad tells her she is going to love fish for dinner, when she really hates it, or when her mother punishes her because her little brother gets water all over the bathroom floor, when she was supposed to be in charge. She gets mad at herself when she tries to dress herself and "it doesn't come out right." And, "When it's my turn to talk and nobody will listen, that makes me mad." The use of different print sizes and fonts to emphasize mood and expression is visually effective. Colorful, humorous cartoonlike vignettes capture the kindergartner's frustrations and joys in her relationships with her parents, sibling, and friends. This is an excellent concept book to introduce emotions and the importance of controlling them. Teachers can also use it to introduce the nuances of language in print.-Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary School, Huntsville, AL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Re-introducing Nina, a grammar-school girl first on the scene in 1976, who doesn't have any trouble expressing her feelings of anger. With each page, she faces a new situation, but all of them lead to the same reaction: "When you won't let me help and I know I can, that makes me mad." Or: "When you make a promise and then you break it . . . " While illuminating the reality of children's frustration and anger, this works for young readers, who can relate to Nina's challenging predicament, and for adults who may overlook a child's intense desire to become independent. Parents would also be wise to use the story as a lesson for teaching the importance of patience, since sometimes the things that make Nina mad turn out okay. In new illustrations, Davenier (The First Thing My Mama Told Me, 2002, etc.) animates Nina and her family with swift brushstrokes using watercolor to create a layered effect that shades with a combination of techniques, including a dab of acrylic on a semi-dry brush that bares a striking likeness to crayon. The uncommon style used to create spilling water is particularly effective. Black pencil lends definition and a rainbow of color creates fun, unusual-looking hair. A useful topic, worthy of exploration. (Picture book. 4-8)