Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
The little mouse from Kevin Henkes's crowd-pleasing Wemberly Worried makes a sweeter-than-cream return in this original board book.

When Wemberly gets an ice-cream star, she's immediately "worried that she might drip on her new dress." Wemberly's even more worried that her doll pal, Petal, won't get any ice cream, so she devises a kindhearted plan that requires a lot of patience: Wait for the ice-cream star to melt and split it. As Wemberly's waiting and waiting, the treat finally becomes "ice-cream star soup," and the two -- ready with their bibs on -- sit down to eat. And of course, "neither of them spilled a drop."

Like all of Henkes’s popular characters -- including Lilly, Chrysanthemum, and Sheila Rae -- generous little Wemberly is simply irresistible. With a story line that really speaks to kids and bright, candy-colored artwork, this book is a sweet treat that can’t be beat! Matt Warner

Publishers Weekly

The winsome heroine of Wemberly Worried returns in a new board book from Kevin Henkes, Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star. Timid children will instantly identify with this charming worrywart as she decides on the proper way to enjoy a surprise treat. Henkes's fluid, expressive illustrations on white backgrounds eliminate extraneous details, deftly focusing on the nuanced emotions that make his characters preschoolers' favorites. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Wemberly, the heroine of Wemberly Worried, continues to worry in this brief board book. Given the ice-cream star on a stick, she worries that it will drip on her new dress. She is also concerned that there is none for her stuffed bunny Petal. So she takes two bowls, two spoons, and two napkins, and waits patiently through several double pages, until they both can enjoy ice cream soup without spilling a drop. Henkes creates a sketchy little anthropomorphic girl/mouse who can involve our emotions with just a gesture. With a minimum of detail and background, he tells the visual story completely. Who can resist smiling at the appealing Wemberly, as she assures Petal that she will "help finish yours?" 2003, Greenwillow/ HarperFestival/ HarperCollins Publishers,
— Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

PreS-Wemberly is back in another winning story. It is a hot summer day and she is given an ice-cream star as a special treat. She worries that it will drip on her dress, and feels bad that her stuffed rabbit did not receive a treat as well. Her solution: to get two bowls and wait until the ice cream has melted. Soon the little mouse and her toy sit down to "-ice-cream star soup. And neither of them spilled a drop." This charming story is perfectly complemented by adorable illustrations rendered in pastel hues against a white background. The text, art, and design are particularly well suited to young children.-Melinda Piehler, North Tonawanda Public Library, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Henkes (Owen's Marshmallow Chick, 2002, etc.) winningly brings another of his characters to the board-book crowd. Worried that she might drip on her new dress and that there might not be enough to share, Wemberly is creative in how she eats her special treat. An ice-cream star on a stick seems like the perfect snack on a hot day, but this little mouse is a bit concerned at first on how to stay clean and how to share her gift with her stuffed bunny friend, Petal. Grabbing "two bowls and two spoons and two napkins," Wemberly patiently and carefully allows the ice-cream star to melt evenly into the two bowls giving her a neat and polite way to share. The friends cozy up to the table to share the ice-cream star soup and Wemberly, ever helpful, assists Petal in finishing her share. Henkes has mastered the art of transferring his mouse children to the simplicity required for a board book, creating new stories around well-loved figures. Pastel-colored pages highlight the simple text while facing pages depict Wemberly in the same soft colors set against an all-white background keeping the page clean and visually right for the audience. A sweet treat worth waiting for. (Board book. 1-3)