Quiet Please, Owen McPhee

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 9, 2018

Review

Like many young children, Owen McPhee has a lot to say and cannot keep it inside. He blurts out in class, in library, at lunch time with his friends, even to his dog when he gets home. Barton's pencil sketches and soft palette effectively capture the feelings of other children when Owen cannot control his words. And when Owen gets laryngitis and cannot speak, she shows the power of the white space, helping the reader see that there are times to listen and times to talk. The diversity of the children in Owen's classroom is noticeable and appreciated. Ludwig, a nationally renowned speaker on helping children connect with kindness, has created a character with whom many young readers will connect and identify. A classroom teacher can use this book to begin a discussion on blurting/listening (questions for discussion are even included in the end matter) and a story time could use this to show how others might feel if children interrupt. It's a simple, lovely book that will easily find its place in classrooms and libraries for years to come.

Overall Book Score: very good