Druthers

Reviewed by: Carla McAllister - New Gloucester Public Library, New Gloucester, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 28, 2015

Review

It is pouring outside and little Penelope is bored. Dad asks what she would like to do if given her druthers. Everything that Penelope dreams up, Dad tries to make as real as possible within the confines of the house by acting like a monkey at the zoo,imitating a cowboy and donning the appropriate clothes and eyepatch to play a pirate, as Penelope chooses several things she would rather be doing instead of being stuck indoors. The ink and watercolor illustrations are spot on and alternate between depictions of Penelope's imagined adventures and the inside of the house as it becomes more and more cluttered with toys as Dad tries to bring Penelope's druthers to fruition. In the end Penelope is not nearly so saddened by the rain outside because Dad has turned out to be a wonderful playmate. With lots of white space, minimal text, and illustrations that make the reader feel warm and fuzzy, this is a perfect example of a positive and energetic father-daughter relationship.

Overall Book Score: very good