Beatrice Doesn't Want To - Hardcover

Numeroff, Laura

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763611603 ISBN 13: 9780763611606

Publisher: Candlewick, 2004

Synopsis

A humorous story of a stubborn little girl, a patient older brother, and the magical workings of the local library.

Beatrice doesn't like books or reading — and she especially doesn't like accompanying big brother Henry to the library three days in a row. But that's where he has to take her while he works on his dinosaur report. Naturally, Beatrice doesn't want to get books from the shelf. Beatrice doesn't want to let Henry work. And Beatrice certainly doesn't want to sit in a room full of boys and girls during story hour. Is there anything that could possibly change her mind? Meet Beatrice, a little girl who knows exactly what she doesn't want. Or does she?

About this title

About the Author

Laura Numeroff is the author of many best-selling books for children, including IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE and IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO THE MOVIES, illustrated by Felicia Bond, as well as WHAT MOMMIES DO BEST, WHAT DADDIES DO BEST, WHAT GRANDMAS DO BEST, and WHAT GRANDPAS DO BEST, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Of BEATRICE DOESN'T WANT TO, she says, "This story is definitely NOT autobiographical, as my favorite place to go as a kid was the library!"

Lynn Munsinger has illustrated more than ninety books for children,
including SCORE ONE FOR THE SLOTHS, SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN, TACKY THE PENGUIN, and HOORAY FOR WODNEY WAT, all by Helen Lester, as well as THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON by Ogden Nash. She says, "I've always been a big fan of Laura Numeroff's writing, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this story to life. I particularly enjoyed creating Beatrice's character — she gave me the opportunity to create so many great facial expressions!"

Reviews

PreSchool-K–Beatrice doesn't like books. The last place she wants to be is in the library, but her older brother has to complete a report on dinosaurs and she is in his care. Done in watercolor, ink, and pencil and featuring floppy-eared canine characters, the expressive illustrations perfectly capture the humor of the text. Beatrice's facial expressions are priceless as she repeatedly attempts to distract her brother from his work: she clings to him with adoring and overly exaggerated interest; she taps him on the shoulder and proclaims, "I'm bored"; and she holds his tail as she trails his every move. Finally reaching his limit, Henry drops Beatrice off in the storytime room. To her grudging amazement, her interest is piqued and she even laughs out loud when the librarian reads a story about a roller-skating mouse. When Henry is ready to go, he finds Beatrice sitting quietly in a big stuffed chair, totally absorbed in the book. This charming tale emphasizes the importance of finding the right book for the right reader.–Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary School, Huntsville, AL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr. 2. In Numeroff and Munsinger's fourth collaboration, a reluctant reader discovers, in spite of herself, the power of a good book. "Henry had to look after Beatrice. He also had to write a report on dinosaurs." Where better to do both than at the library? Unfortunately, little Bea "hated going to the library." Once there, she greets Henry's every suggestion with a muleish "I don't want to." Finally, a serendipitously timed story hour (and a very funny book) convince her of the library's charms. The siblings are cleverly cast as bassett hounds, an endearing species in any context. Munsinger, queen of anthropomorphic animals, makes them even more so, manipulating their naturally elastic features to reflect Beatrice's moods--beseeching, sulky, endearingly angelic--and to extend the humor of Numeroff's typically pitch-perfect text. Though the plot is somewhat thin and the ending far from surprising, adults will dab at their eyes over the ever-rousing message about the glories of reading; little ones will sympathize with Bea's tagalong status; and big kids will groan in recognition at her contrarian ways. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763611603
• ISBN 13: 9780763611606
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Munsinger Lynn
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32