Hamsters to the Rescue

October 1, 2005
PreS-Gr 1 -This tale lacks the simplicity and tight plotting that have made Walsh's previous books so successful. Pell and Henry find a seagull feather and decide to return it. Their trip to find the owner leads them along the seashore where they have a series of short adventures and meet some seaside dwellers. Finally, they reach the bird, who thanks them for the return of his now-broken feather and gives them plumes of their own. After playing with them, they decide to find their way home. The meandering plot, while extremely childlike, lacks momentum, some of the phrasing is awkward, and the ending is abrupt. The final page includes a picture of shells and the question: -Can you find these shells in Henry and Pell's story?, - implying a search-and-find game, which may be the only motivation for repeated readings. Walsh's appealing hamsters and the backgrounds in her signature cut-paper collages are easy on the eye, yet curiously static. The bright colors, interesting textures, and speckled rocks are pleasing to look at, and readers will learn about seaside animals along the way. Unfortunately, the story feels overburdened and is less than satisfying." -Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2006
At the beach, two hamsters discover a seagull feather and decide to search for its owner. They meet a hermit crab and a fiddler crab before finally returning the bedraggled feather to the seagull, who praises them for their efforts. The uncluttered collage illustrations for this low-key adventure offer a pleasing hamster's-eye tour of the seashore.

(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)