Reviews
STAY: A GIRL, A DOG, A BUCKET LIST
"Quirky and delightful on its surface, this poignant picture book opens the door to deeper considerations of eventual loss . . . and the precious value of taking care of the ones you love."
-The Horn Book (starred review)
"Who says bucket lists are just for humans? Not the Klise sisters who gracefully trace a girl’s growing awareness of her dog’s impending death . . . Readers will gradually come to understand that the way Astrid and Eli have been spending their time is less important than the fact that they’ve spent it together. The Klises close with an image of girl and dog watching the sunset over the water, a moment that—like the book as a whole—is both emotionally restrained and full of feeling."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
THE CIRCUS GOES TO SEA
In the third installment of the endearing Three-Ring Rascals chapter books, Sir Sidney's circus brings cruise-ship entertainment to a new level, and Brambles' heart grows as large as an ocean. Sir Sidney continues to work with his manager, Barnabas Brambles, on being kind. Bert and Gert, the circus mice, see a long road ahead, but little do they know a sea change is coming. A letter from a Miss LaPasta arrives, inviting the circus aboard a cruise ship—all except Brambles! Miss LaPasta has "heard he's the meanest man alive." With that, Sir Sidney determines they will go, with Brambles. It's only after they embark that they discover that Miss LaPasta is a lonely child who did not tell her mother, Capt. LaPasta, about the invitation. Worse, Sir Sidney is laid low by seasickness, while Brambles becomes lovesick for the captain. And although the ensemble thrills the passengers with their antics and acts, the unhappy captain sees ruin and disaster. Then they hit an iceberg! The adventures are captured in text that fully integrates art and speech bubbles, geography lessons are gratis, and the climax is marked by a meatball version of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." All's well that ends with wedding bells. With this series, youngsters will find reading smooth sailing and look forward to future escapades. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10) -Kirkus Reviews
GREETINGS FROM THE GRAVEYARD
Who knew that Ignatius B. Grumply’s proposal of 21 years ago would come back to haunt him? Now that he’s a rich and famous author, Nadia’s interest is renewed. She’ll stop at nothing to get his money. After two convicts escape from prison, Ghastly experiences an unexpected crime streak. Enter Olive’s long-dead butler and the new family business of creating greeting cards. Readers will find plenty of clues to sort through as they pour over the newspaper articles, letters, text messages, and art that we’ve come to anticipate in the series.
-School Library Journal
THE GREATEST STAR ON EARTH
As our story begins, a close-knit band of circus performers learns of a contest devised by a mysterious newspaper publisher. One performer will win a trophy for best act, and everyone from Leo the lion to Tiger the singing cat wants that trophy. Badly. Soon, brother is plotting against brother (literally, in the case of the Famous Flying Banana Brothers). The story zips along, the text and illustrations are full of playful surprises, and the author sustains a tone of rare and genuine sweetness . . . My younger son (age 10) swiped my copy and looked up from his reading just long enough to announce, "Whoever wrote this book really remembers what kids like."Who is the best performer? That is the question in this second in the entertaining Three-Ring Rascals chapter-book series.
-Chicago Tribune
The premise is quickly established: Polly Pumpkinseed, publisher of the Circus Times, decides to sponsor a contest to determine who is best in Sir Sidney’s circus. Sir Sidney thinks his stars are all great and doesn’t want anyone to have their feelings hurt. He smells trouble ahead. More to the point: He actually develops a worrywart on his nose and is directed to rest, leaving the circus in Barnabas Brambles’ hands. With circus mice Bert and Gert once again acting as his conscience, Barnabas behaves tolerably well this time. But Elsa the elephant, Leo the lion and the Famous Flying Banana Brothers become consumed with the contest. The story and the language trips along, as do the performers in their misguided efforts to win. As before, Gert’s invented expressions are sprinkled throughout, sure to arouse giggles (“elephant + bellyflop = eleflop”). Illustrations, complete with speech bubbles, are seamlessly interwoven with the text to capture the action and misadventures. There’s even a rousing song as the story moves toward its conclusion, asking “Can Three-Ring Rascals make this end okay?” Indeed, when they pull together, they can! Absurd situations, winning characters and plenty of heartfelt moments and laughs combine to make this a surefire hit. (Graphic fiction hybrid. 7-10)
-Kirkus Reviews
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
"With their new series Three-Ring Rascals, the Klise sisters introduce readers to the sweetest circus in the world. Sir Sidney, a modern-day Atticus Finch, is getting too old to take care of his circus and its lovable animals, Elsa the elephant, Bert and Gert the mice, Leon the lion and Old Coal the crow. Can the circus survive the new owner Barnabas Brambles and his evil to-do list? Intended for ages 7 to 10 or grades 2 to 5, this book has a little something for every kid: simple cartoon illustrations, wordplay, the occasional math problem, a farting lion and a big mean baddie with breath that 'smelled vaguely of grilled onions and spoiled milk.' The Klise sisters are no newcomers to the world of children’s fiction. Their work is cute and fun with a great message: 'No matter if you’re young or old — if you’re kind, you’re good as gold.'"
-Brittany Hart, The New Orleans Advocate
"Sir Sidney, owner of Sir Sidney’s Circus, is considering retirement—but who will fill his shoes? A gentle soul, he prides his circus on its solicitous treatment of animals (daily groomings for Leo the lion; fresh imported peanuts for Elsa the elephant; plenty of rest between shows) and warm attitude toward audiences (free admission for children; complimentary popcorn). “Certified Lion Tamer” Barnabas Brambles wins the chance to take over the circus for a one-week trial run, but his obsession with turning a profit quickly (more shows! higher prices! worse food!) lands the circus in dire straits. As the group travels around the country, making accidental pit-stops atop various famous monuments and missing shows left and right, Brambles grows increasingly mean and miserly, and the animals grow more frustrated—all except problem-solving mice Bert and Gert, who serve as both peanut gallery and intrepid kid stand-ins as they work to save the circus. Brambles’s schemes reap comic (and karmic) consequences that directly undermine his endgame, and readers will enjoy tracing each bad choice to its disastrous conclusion. Black-and-white spot illustrations appear on almost every page, bringing the gawky-limbed characters (animal and human alike) to life and interacting dynamically with the text. The Klises maintain a light touch with the messaging, giving the book a comforting thematic unity around the importance of kindness; and humor is apparent in every detail, from the smallest conversational exchanges to the
extravagantly silly set pieces that mark the book’s major plot points. Readers will eagerly await the next volume of over-the-(big)-top hijinks."
-Claire E. Gross, The Horn Book
"The owner of Sir Sidney’s Circus needs a vacation, and after reviewing and interviewing many potential circus managers, he chooses Barnabas Brambles, a graduate of the University of Piccadilly Circus in London with a degree in lion taming. But Barnabas is in need of making money and changes Sir Sidney’s Circus schedule and pricing for his own profit and treats the animals poorly. Things seem to go wrong almost from the start, and he cancels all but the final show of the week. Barnabas is a complete fraud and knows nothing of circus life, yet Sir Sidney believes that the scoundrel can be a better man tomorrow. Whimsical illustrations are generously positioned throughout the text and play a key role in the book’s pacing. Beginning chapter-book readers will thoroughly enjoy this fun and fast-paced title, which has lessons in kindness along the way."
–Patty Saidenberg, School Library Journal
"Kate Klise, author of the wildly punny 43 Old Cemetery Road and Regarding series, turns to a slightly younger audience in this amusing series opener. After years of developing his traveling circus into one of the best shows in the world, old and tired Sir Sidney decides he needs some help. He hires Barnabas Brambles for a one-week trial run, but it’s clear that the smarmy certified lion tamer is more concerned with making money than respecting the performers and talking circus animals. When Brambles tries to add more cities to their tour, sell off some of the older animals, and allow the directionless Famous Flying Banana Brothers to navigate the circus train, plenty of high jinks ensue, including getting stuck atop the Saint Louis Arch. Playful black-and-white illustrations and creative language—in the form of sight gags, coined words, speech bubbles, letters, and phone texts—keep the story lively. Math teachers will especially appreciate Brambles’ profit calculations throughout. A big-top introduction to the author’s quirky humor."
— Angela Leeper, Booklist
"Elderly Sir Sidney loves his circus, and he pampers his animals and performers, as well as the two mice and crow who are part of its extended family. When he decides to take some time off, he hires brash Barnabas Brambles, who promises to care for the circus with the same doting attention as Sir Sidney. As soon as the kindhearted owner leaves, though, Barnabas reveals his true plans, and they do not involve any doting; the top of his to-do list reads, “Make $$$ for me.” With a terrible meanie in charge (Barnabas intends to increase the number of shows, charge more, and sell beloved animals), things look grim, but the circus folk hold onto their humor in this sweetly nutty kickoff to the Klise sisters’ Three Ring Rascals series. Cartoon spot illustrations play up the comical mood—mice Bert and Gert deploy quips left and right, and the circus train spends a great deal of time atop the St. Louis Arch—in this free-spirited story that concludes with a lesson in kindness and a promise of more fun to come." Ages 7–10.
-Publishers Weekly
"In this entertaining chapter book, the first in a series, readers meet kind Sir Sidney and the gentle performers and hands in his circus. But Sir Sidney is tired and leaves the circus under the management of new-hire Barnabas Brambles for a week. That Sir Sidney is beloved by all is quickly established, presenting a sharp contrast to the bully Brambles. The scoundrel immediately comes up with a “to do” list that includes selling the animals and eliminating the mice Bert and Gert. (Gert is almost more distressed by Brambles’ ill-fitting suit and vows to tailor it.) Revealed almost entirely through dialogue, the put-upon animals’solidarity is endearing. The story, like the circus train now driven by the Famous Flying Banana Brothers, takes absurd loops and turns. The art is fully integrated, illustrating the action and supplementing the text with speech bubbles, facsimile letters and posters, Brambles’ profit-and-loss notes, examples of Gert’s invented vocabulary and more. Brambles’ plans go awry, of course, and he gets his comeuppance. With Bert and Gert acting as his conscience, along with a suit from Gert that finally fits and a dose of forgiveness, Brambles makes a turnaround. Sensitive children may doubt Sir Sidney’s wisdom in leaving his animals with an unscrupulous man, and the closing message is a tad
didactic, but that doesn’t blunt the fun too much. Most children will agree the book is 'smafunderful (smart + fun + wonderful).'” (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10)
-Kirkus
HOLLYWOOD, DEAD AHEAD
"This fifth hilarious excursion to Seymour Hope’s address in Ghastly, Ill., takes the little, idiosyncratic family to Hollywood when an unscrupulous movie mogul decides to film their stories. Young Seymour and ghost Olive can’t wait to become movie stars, while crotchety Ignatius remains cautious. Pushed into it by majority rule, Ignatius signs the lengthy contract, only to learn later that he has signed away all rights to the trio’s books, past and future, for no compensation whatsoever. When they arrive in Hollywood, everything goes wrong. Ignatius becomes consumed with his image makeover, especially his new teeth. Seymour auditions to play himself in the movie and wins the part, but Olive fumes because the movie company ignores her (she is invisible, after all). They find an ally in Ivana Oscar, the 92-year-old former star tapped to play Olive when Ivana learns that her contract demands her death in order to boost profits for the film. As always, the comedy depends on deliberately awful puns, especially in the characters’names, such as Moe Block Busters, Hugh Briss and Phillip D. Rubbish. M. Sarah Klise’s exuberant drawings contribute half of the book’s content. Kate Klise delivers the text in the form of letters, memos and newspaper articles, with humor stuffed into every corner. Another winner for this inventive series." (Humor. 8-12)
-Kirkus
DYING TO MEET YOU
"Kate Klise fleshes out the plot with back stories on the house, Seymour's catastrophic, absent parents and Olive's haunting of the house. Suspense intrudes when Seymour's parents reappear and decide to demolish it. Everywhere they look, readers will find comedy, even in the headers on the letters and character names. Of course it's all going to come out magnificently in the end, thereby setting up the next book in the planned series. A quirky, comedic romp."
-Kirkus
"This epistolary graphic mystery may take genre-bending into the realm of genre-pretzeling, but it still delivers an unlikely story with a great deal of likability."
-Booklist
"The fun here is in the narrative equipment— letters, e-mails, newspaper extracts, floor plan, cast list, etc., and in the embedded jokes, such as Cliff Hanger (the editor of The Ghastly Times) and Frank N. Beans (the private investigator) . . . young mock-gothic fans will nonetheless be eager to revisit 43 Old Cemetery Road in the anticipated sequels."
-Horn Book
"This first title in a new series will appeal to readers, especially reluctant ones, as it moves quickly and leaves its audience eager for book two, which is announced in this ghastly and fun tale."
-School Library Journal
"This fresh, funny launch of the 43 Old Cemetery Road series introduces an eccentric cast with pun-tastic names . . . the story is light enough for more tentative readers, with many humorous details to reward those who look closer."
-Publishers Weekly
". . . a frothy little confection, whose enjoyability comes as much, if not more, from the format and side jokes . . . as from the main plot. The story is a pleasant example of the supernatural sitcom . . . an engaging and easy-going read. Illustrations, mostly vigorous line portraits drawn by ‘Seymour,' add additional invitation to the accessible pages.”
-The Bulletin for Children's Books
OVER MY DEAD BODY
“The laughter continues in this second installment of the Klises' series about a ghost and her friends. As in the first book, Dying to Meet You (2009), the entire story is told through letters, newspaper articles and the like and is adorned with M. Sarah Klise's amusing line drawings. Dramatic tension builds when elderly writer I.B. Grumply and his charge, the abandoned boy Seymour, are carted off to an insane asylum and an orphanage, respectively. Ghost-in-Residence Olive breaks them out and does her best to see that all villains get what they deserve. A dreaded government agent tries not only to break up the happy partnership but to outlaw Halloween. Worse, he turns the town against the trio, endangering their livelihood — publishing a serialized illustrated mystery. Much of the town of Ghastly, Ill., gets involved in the excitement, with characters sporting names appropriate to their callings, such as the locksmith, Ike N. Openitt. Even the addresses on the letters add to the comedy of this light, diverting romp.” (Ages 8 to 12) -Kirkus
TILL DEATH DO US BARK
The third installment in this cheery little series set in the town of Ghastly adds several new characters: siblings Kitty and Kanine Breth and a dog loud enough to wake the dead. Once again, the sisters Klise deliver their story through letters, newspaper articles, notes and transcripts, all illustrated with M. Sarah Klise’s delightfully imaginative drawings. Seymour finds a dog, which everyone knows was owned by the recently deceased Noah Breth and which Seymour intends to keep. The dog, “Secret,” barks all night, however, disturbing even ghosts. Shadow the cat disappears, while Olive and Ignatius begin squabbling. Attempting to restore harmony, Seymour takes Secret and leaves. Meanwhile, the greedy heirs of Noah Breth arrive to squabble over his fortune. Rare coins keep turning up all over town. Everyone looks for Seymour and Secret. As always, the authors keep readers giggling with the clever, usually death-related names invented for their characters (M. Balm, Fay Tality and Mike Ondolences). Phrases turn nicely as well: During a written and rather heated conversation between Ignatius and Olive, she writes, “I refuse to continue this conversation if you’re going to raise your font at me.”Good, merry fun dances on every page, with bubbling humor for child and adult alike. (Humor. 8-12)
-Kirkus
Seymour lives in a haunted house with his newly adoptive parents, famous author Ignatius B. Grumply and the ghost of Olive C. Spence. When a stray dog named Secret follows Seymour home from the library one day, Seymour is thrilled. Seymour later learns that Secret has been recently orphaned by his deceased owner, Noah Breth. Breth was a wealthy man, but his children didn't have much to do with him. Suddenly, they've appeared on the scene, ready to inherit their fortunes, fighting with one another over who will get what. As events unfold and Breth's fortune appears in the strangest places, there is still a piece of the puzzle missing. Through a series of letters and newspaper clippings, this hilarious story will have kids clamoring to figure out this mystery.
-Kendal A. Rautzhan, Special to The Day
REGARDING THE FOUNTAIN
“The Klise sisters have created a classic of comic children’s literature.”
-Claire Dederer, Reviewer for Amazon.com
“An unequivocal delight.”
-Kirkus (Pointer Review)
“A mystery with an unconventional, yet fun and effective approach…Fresh, funny, and a delight to read.”
-School Library Journal
“The hilarious shenanigans are unremitting; the puns flow faster than the leaks in the old fountain. And the splendiferous new fountain, when it arrives, is a credit to the unfettered imagination.”
-Horn Book
“…The real joy of the story is in the Klises’ clever blend of text and image.”
-Children's Literature
“…Rollicking story.”
-Publishers Weekly
REGARDING THE SINK
In this sequel to Regarding the Fountain (HarperCollins, 1998), Florence Waters, the artist who designed the school fountain, is needed to design a new cafeteria sink, but she is missing. Finding her becomes the focus of the sixth-grade class from Geyser Creek Middle School in Missouri. A U.S. Senator, the principal's rich mother, Chinese Sinkiang Blinking Spotted Suckerfish, big business, and beans all play a role in this mystery that eventually leads to a class trip to China. The story is conveyed through letters, student drawings and poems, advertisements, e-mails, school assignments, facsimiles, stock reports, newspaper articles, a variety of other kinds of documents, and cartoons. Each page is designed to look like the kind of document it represents. Piecing the story and clues together is satisfying. Introduce this book to savvy readers who are ready for the jump to a clever, unconventional reading experience.
–School Library Journal
The cast, dynamic format, and some of the same plot elements that appeared in the Klise sisters' Regarding the Fountain (1998) enjoy a reprise here. This time, Geyser Creek Middle School's principal isn't pleased with the sixth-grade's enthusiasm for reconnecting with fountain-designer Florence Waters to help resolve the school's need for a cafeteria sink. While the kids attempt to contact Ms. Waters and grow increasingly concerned about her silence, the reader has an opportunity to sift through the newspaper accounts about evil Senator MOM and other stories that have a bearing on Ms. Waters. The subplot concerning the principal's e-mail attempts to get his staff to cease communication via nonelectronic means will amuse adults more than kids, but the array of nicely designed documentation (sketches, handwritten cards, etc.) and the twist at the end of the story will keep many young bibliophiles content.
-Booklist
REGARDING THE TREES
The doyennes of the double meaning offer a third visit to the Missouri hamlet of Geyser Creek, whose residents are now regarding two crises. One is middle-school Principal Wally Russ's "Proposal" to Flo Waters, which he supposes is only to cut down a century-old weeping willow to save his job (She thinks otherwise); the other a bitter culinary rivalry between the Geyser Creek Cafe's Angel Fisch and Chef Angelo of newly opened Caffe Angelo that has blossomed into a town-wide split between the sexes. As in previous episodes, these and other intertwined plotlines are entirely leafed out through letters, memos, newspaper reports and ads, archival documents and chalkboard notes, all printed in various typefaces with the occasional ink-and-wash vignette grafted in. Led by crusading classmate Minnie "Ax not! It's what you can do for your country" O., the six sixth-graders plant themselves right in the middle of it all, and by the end have helped to save the tree, nip the bad report of school inspector Leif Blite in the bud and turn intended "weedings" into multiple "weddings." Consistently clever and often hilarious, this and its series mates may well become perennial favorites with young readers. -Kirkus
REGARDING THE BATHROOMS
Using the highly successful format introduced in Regarding the Fountain (Avon, 1998), Klise offers readers another punny tale about the kids at Geyser Creek Middle School. In preparation for a conference that will be held at his school, Principal Russ re-hires Florence Waters to renovate the bathrooms in the basement. She enlists the help of the children attending summer school, who discover that the school was built on the site of the Geyser Creek Bath and Spas. They find more than just the spa during their summer, including escaped convicts and buried artifacts. The tale is told exclusively through heavily illustrated letters, memos, newspaper articles, and police reports, and it includes multiple subplots that are tied up neatly at the end. Puns and bathroom humor are rampant in this clever, funny romp. A must for fans of the series.
–School Library Journal
Principal Russ wants to clean up Geyser Creek Middle School's dilapidated bathrooms before an upcoming conference, but plans go awry when more pressing issues arise: two convicts are on the loose; Chef Angelo's marriage to Angel Fisch may be on the rocks; an international crime ring seems to have a local connection; and the bathrooms may be more than they appear. Students are busy with summer internships, but thanks to their savvy, persistent detective work, the multiple difficulties are overcome. Told through letters, articles, and cartoonlike illustrations, the fourth book in Klise's series, which began with Regarding the Fountain (1998), is another witty, delightful novel with a colorful cast of characters, multiple mix-ups, and mayhem, intertwined with a history of bathrooms stretching back to Roman times, including their uses as social spaces and even galleries. Puns abound, and there are a few bathroom jokes, though nothing really crass enough to compromise an entertaining novel that celebrates community and history.
-Booklist
REGARDING THE BEES
This addition to the series follows the Geyser Creek Middle School kids to seventh grade where they have to take the dreaded BEEs—Basic Education Evaluation. If the students do not pass, they must repeat all of middle school. And to make matters worse, their teacher, Sam N., is filling in for Mr. Russ as principal. But not to worry—he has enlisted the help of Florence Waters, fountain designer, as substitute teacher. She teaches the class via correspondence, sending assignments to the children while she's off gathering more information about bees to share with them. The story follows the series format of using letters, notes, faxes, and other correspondence to relate the goings-on. As the events progress, the students share their concerns about boyfriends/girlfriends and the upcoming dance. They also learn to have some compassion for a class whose teacher is using some underhanded methods to insure her students win the coveted Show Me Spelling Bee. Fans of the series will appreciate this installment, reluctant readers will be drawn to the format, and more advanced readers will appreciate the wordplay and puns sprinkled throughout.
-School Library Journal
LETTERS FROM CAMP
Anyone who has been to summer camp will delight in this wild spoof of camp life told entirely in letters, memos, and whimsical illustrations, in a format similar to the Klises' Regarding the Fountain (1998). Three sets of brothers and sisters who hate each other find themselves trapped in Camp Happy Harmony, which promises to teach battling siblings love and respect. But the Harmony family, a crowd of has-been singers, turn out to be thieving con-artists plotting to murder each other. Led by the egotistical Darlene Harmony, the family uses the campers for drudge work, assigning them to paint buildings and build fences, feeding them drugged dinners and very little else. Darlene is trying to kill off the handyman, while two of the Harmonys (one of whom isn't even a real Harmony brother) are trying to poison the other four. The campers, also oddballs, rise to the occasion by learning to cook, spying on the Harmonys, cracking the mystery, and exposing the Harmonys' crimes to the world. Along the way they also come to love one another. The illustrations are as important as the writing, allowing readers to become detectives and discover clues in the letters and pictures. Every character and every plot development is thoroughly silly, and every single one contributes to the charm of this novel. A real treat, ideal for having on hand for camp care packages. (Fiction. 8-12)
-Kirkus
Like the Klises Regarding the Fountain (Avon, 1998), this quirky, humorous novel is told through letters, memos, shopping receipts, ledger entries, post-its, and news articles. Three brother/sister pairs are signed up by their parents for a month at Camp Harmony, where they are to work on their inharmonious sibling relationships with the Harmonys, six over-the-hill siblings who were once a popular family singing act. Barbie Q. and Brisket Roast from Texas, Ivan and Mimi Gems from London, and Charlie and Charlotte Lee from Illinois quickly realize how strange the camp is, with its nonstop chores and terrible food. They also realize that the Harmonys dont really like one another. In fact, they seem to be trying to kill one another off. Ivan, an aspiring mystery writer, is in his element as the youngsters put aside their own squabbles, unite against the adults, and try to discover the truth. Ironically, in the process, the siblings learn to get along, just as the brochure promised. With copious black-and-white sketches, each page is a collage of written evidence through which the story unfolds not as a straightforward narrative, but rather piecemeal like a puzzle. The book has clearly drawn heroes and villains, lots of puns and knee-slapping shenanigans, and the illicit thrill of reading other peoples mail. A bit cute and chaotic, this novel will attract students with a wacky sense of humor who enjoy piecing together a mystery.
-School Library Journal
TRIAL BY JOURNAL
“The story is crazy, the storytelling hilarious and you might even learn what it means to be on a jury.”
-Children's Literature
“...Read on for the pleasure of the unraveling...scheme and for the linguistic pleasures Kate Klise provides. Artist M. Sarah Klise matches her sister’s sense of fun with outrageous layouts and sketches throughout the text.”
-Horn Book
“A clever, entertaining mystery with a protagonist who learns about the legal process and about keeping an open mind.”
-Booklist
“The authors of Letters From Camp (1999) again take diaristic fiction to another level with a tale of grown-up chicanery told entirely in correspondence, casual sketches, printed ephemera, receipts, newspaper pages, advertisements, transcripts of radio news programs, and journal entries. Despite the lack of a body, everyone in Tyleville believes that slow-witted loner Bob White has killed 11-year-old Perry Keet. Thanks to a new state law, Perry’s classmate Lily gets an insider’s view of the ensuing trial, for she is chosen to sit on Bob White’s jury, even though it means being sequestered and losing weeks of school. Lily’s journal, along with notes and sketches from fellow jurors, link a sheaf of circumstantial evidence that gradually points not to Bob, but to Tyleville’s resident tycoon, Rhett Tyle, and his secret confederate, Anna Conda. They are con artists who had been planning to turn the local zoo’s huge snake collection into a line of designer fashions, but are now preparing for a quick getaway after auctioning off the oeuvre of the zoo’s new star attraction: a gorilla named Priscilla, who has suddenly started painting recognizable pictures. Sound complicated? That’s only an overview but the Klises keep it all in the air with expertly timed revelations, distinct character voices, and seemingly bottomless reserves of droll, inventive humor, and readers get a surprisingly credible look at how the jury system works.”
-Kirkus
“The sisters Klise once again use the format they mastered in Regarding the Fountain to cleverly recount Lily Watson’s experience as the “first juvenile juror in the state's history.” This three-ring circus, with Lily as capable ringmaster, will set in motion readers’flights of fancy from beginning to end, when a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”receives his comeuppance and the innocent “jailbird” is set free.
-Publishers Weekly
GROUNDED
Dark humor melds with genuine pathos in Klise's delightful and moving novel, set in Digginsville, Missouri, during the early 1970s. Twelve-year-old Daralynn Oakland is devastated when her father and siblings die in a plane crash. Angry and heart-broken, Daralynn's mother gets a job as hairstylist at the local funeral parlor, while Daralynn comes up with the idea of a “living funeral,” where people can hear their own eulogy and have a chance to thank family and friends. The living funeral is a huge hit until Clem Monroe comes to town and starts a crematorium, undermining the funeral home's business. Klise loves a mystery, which the charming yet sinister Clem provides in spades. She also uses letters, newspaper articles, and journal entries to excellent effect. However, it's the journey through grief and the quirky characters (such as the senile grandma who takes to feeding and burping all of Daralynn's dolls) that stay with the reader. This quiet story illuminates and celebrates the human need for connection beyond the grave.
-Booklist
In 12-year-old Daralynn's world of '60s TV dinners and Perry Mason, “B.C.” marks the time before the small-plane crash that killed her father, brother and sister, and “A.D.” is “After the Deaths.” Daralynn's mother hardens her heart after the tragedy, and her pragmatic daughter does her darnedest to follow suit. The small-town–Missouri story—despite all the corpses, funerals and cremations—is not so much about death as about coping with grief. Lively, comical details, described in Daralynn's matter-of-fact first-person voice, keep the story buoyant, such as when Daralynn mistakes a girl for a boy at her mother's hair salon and gives her a Marlon Brando–inspired haircut she hastily dubs “Le Frenchie,” and when she infers the town's new crematorium will be an ice-cream parlor. In the sentimental end, this salty-sweet, nut-sprinkled novel underscores the “grounding” that comes with caring for people, whether it's flashy-trashy Aunt Josie and her boardinghouse gentlemen, senile Mamaw poignantly nurturing her dolls or, most powerfully of all, Daralynn and her mother finding their way back to each other.
-Kirkus
Daralynn Oakland's life in Digginsville , Missouri , changes dramatically when her father, older brother, and younger sister all die in a plane crash. Her mother becomes an angry widow and lets Daralynn out of the house only to accompany her to work at her beauty parlor and her stylist job at Danielson Family Funeral Home. When Clem's Crematorium arrives in town and threatens her mother's livelihood, Daralynn decides to investigate the owner, Clem Monroe (who has become involved with her aunt Josie), in an attempt to uncover secrets about him and his unusual business. This improbably lighthearted mystery, told from Daralynn's entertainingly candid perspective, deals with death and its aftermath in a straightforward style that puts the "fun back in funeral." Daralynn's complex relationships with her mother, aunt, and uncle (a recent Vietnam War veteran); her humorous descriptions of her senile, doll-loving grandmother, Mamaw; and her struggles to come to terms with her grief add depth, making the book about more than just the mystery Daralynn solves. At its core, this story is about the importance of becoming "grounded"-of overcoming one's own loss by helping someone else-a hopeful message to learn in trying times.
-Horn Book
Klise (the 43 Old Cemetery Road series) spins an insightful story about loss and family, set in the tiny town of Digginsville, Mo., told from the plainspoken perspective of 12-year-old Daralynn Oakland. Her brother, sister, and father die in a plane crash, leaving her with her brusque mother, who refuses help or sympathy, and her senile grandmother. Her mother keeps herself busy with a new job as a hairstylist at the local funeral home, while Daralynn is stuck at home, eating frozen dinners ("After the grief casseroles tapered off, Mother lost the will to cook"), examining her life B.C. (Before the Crash) and A.D. (After the Deaths), and recording letters to her siblings and father in her Pertinent Facts & Important Information book. When the mysterious Mr. Clem opens a crematorium nearby and steals the heart of Daralynn's vivacious Aunt Josie, it poses a threat to the funeral home's business, and the town. Balancing Daralynn's family tragedy with gentle humor and an evocative late-1960s setting, Klise's writing is refreshingly matter-of-fact and studded with simple, powerful images and memorable, entertaining characters. Ages 9–13.
-Publishers Weekly
DELIVER US FROM NORMAL
In Normal, Illinois, sixth-grader Charles Harrisong feels that his family is anything but normal. Because he is intensely self-conscious, almost everything humiliates Charles past endurance, and in truth his classmates do tease him for being different. Yet the very family who so embarrasses Charles is also a source of strength and support. When, after a cruel incident at school, his sister Clara points out that Charles isn't just shy, that the other kids' treatment of him "made him shy," the Harrisongs pack up their belongings and move to a houseboat they bought sight unseen. This reckless action isn't altogether plausible, but Klise's ear for family dynamics is dead-on, with each family member precisely and delicately drawn as the family relationships shift with their risky move. Klise's previous books (Regarding the Fountain, etc.) used devices such as letters and newspaper clippings to assemble the story; in this, her first straightforward narrative, she shows a gift for getting inside her narrator, delivering his perceptions with immediacy and self-deprecating
humor. Readers will hope for a sequel to this touching, funny book.
-Horn Book
PEOPLE reporter Kate Klise, author of five previous books for young readers, has written a quirky coming-of-age tale for the 10-14 crowd. Starring goofy but loveable Charles Harrisong, a boy from Normal, Ill., it's about standing out in all the wrong ways.
-People
Klise, better known for oddball mysteries, goes here for a more character-driven family story, narrated by an 11-year-old middle child edging toward serious depression. Compiling lists like "The Most Embarrassing Things in My Life," Charles Harrisong glumly records efforts of his hardworking parents to make ends meet, the tumultuous teasing and tears at home among his four siblings and his own unsuccessful efforts to escape the jeering notice of his middle school's in-crowd. Just beneath these seemingly routine trappings, however, lurks a far more rewarding tale, for the Harrisongs are one of those uncommon (at least, in literature) species, a cohesive nuclear family whose members, for all their occasional fallings-out, love and respect each other to pieces. Better yet, Klise doesn't tell, she shows, leading readers gradually into the hearts and spirits of her characters-while taking those characters on a seriocomic odyssey of their own, as they impetuously leave their rented Illinois home for a leaky houseboat off the Alabama coast, and a well-earned fresh start. Nothing "normal" here.
-Kirkus (starred review)
FAR FROM NORMAL
In this quirky sequel to Deliver Us from Normal (2005), precocious 14-year-old Charles Harrisong sells an article to a national magazine, describing his working-class family's flight from Normal, Illinois, to escape small-town prejudice and live an atypical life aboard a houseboat. The article comes under the scrutiny of superstore Bargain Bonanza, which threatens to sue because Charles has maligned its clothing in print. The chain agrees to drop the issue if the Harrisongs will promote its new "Normal" brand of sportswear, power tools, and laxatives. Though they are given a rent-free Dallas penthouse and all the "Bonanza Bucks" they can spend, the Harrisongs are unhappy, and they quickly hatch a daring plan to escape the reality television show that has become their life. Riffing on commercialism and the cult of celebrity, Klise's narrative often feels contrived and over the top, but middle-school students who enjoyed the first novel will appreciate this sequel, whose offbeat humor is reminiscent of Gordon Korman and David Lubar.
-Booklist
STAND STRAIGHT, ELLA KATE
Born in 1872 and brought up on a farm in Missouri, Ella Kate Ewing began to grow so quickly that she soon towered over her friends. Though her parents vow to protect Ella Kate from name-calling and taunts by keeping her at home, at 18 she ventures out to earn money as a museum exhibit in Chicago. Later, Ella Kate sees the world and makes her fortune by appearing in exhibitions and circuses as “THE TALLEST LADY ON EARTH.” When people are cruel, she maintains her dignity by remembering her parents' admonition to “Stand straight, Ella Kate.” Based on the real Ella Ewing and told from her point of view, this intriguing picture book ends with a page of information about her medical condition (gigantism) and her remarkable life. Although the book's well-paced, lightly fictionalized story underscores Ella Kate's dignity and generosity, it includes many height-related incidents that will intrigue and amuse children. The acrylic paintings reflect the tone of the text while illustrating the narrative with warmth, wit, and style. The book's factual basis makes its underlying message more powerful. Readers will enjoy watching this sympathetic character gradually come to accept her unusual height and make the most of it.
-Booklist (starred Review)
Ella Kate Ewing had gigantism, a glandular disorder that gave her an adult height of 8 feet 4 inches and size 24 feet. Her story is told in the first person, recounting how troubled she was by teasing in her youth, but how she turned her condition into a job—appearing in circuses and museums and at fairs—and a means to achieve independence and to help her family. She grew up in Missouri in a log cabin her father built, and the title comes from her mother's admonition as she tried to keep Ella clothed properly. M. Sarah Klise's acrylic-on–Bristol board paintings are friendly and colorful, rendering the late-19th-century images with softly exaggerated gestures. The author's note is informative, but it does not include references—a lamentable omission, as it makes further investigation of this fascinating subject difficult. Children will likely be captivated by both the story and Ella Kate's quiet and direct voice.
-Kirkus
. . . Which brings us to the other end of the bell curve, with “Stand Straight, Ella Kate,” a biographical picture book about Ella Kate Ewing (8-foot-4), written by Kate Klise. To picture the heroine’s time (1872-1913), the author’s sister, M. Sarah Klise, provides illustrations that could have been inspired by Garth Williams, if you can imagine an eight-foot character plopped down in the middle of his illustrations for he “Little House” books. In any event, the stage is set when Ella is 13and a boy calls her a “freak,” and Ella’s mother insists that she never slouch — hence the title. So, at the age of 18, holding her head high, Ella, no slouch, applied for carny work and became an exhibit, getting to tour the world as the Tallest Lady on Earth and earning as much in a month as her pa earned in a year of farming. Little-guy humor may be Schwartz’s path, but Klise suggests that being deferential had no place in Ella’s life; instead, she embraced herself as a spectacle with a towering pride. With her sizable earnings, she paid off her parents’ mortgage and bought a house for herself, which she outfitted with custom-made furniture. As a measure of Ella’s confidence, Klise has her character boast, “I had the longest bed in town.” Even so, let me add that one of the most satisfying features of “Stand Straight, Ella Kate” can be seen in the endpapers, where a drawing of Ella’s glove appears actual size (“glove size 24”). As a way of measuring and understanding, you can put your own hand down on top of that outline. It’s a humbling experience.
-The New York Times
SHALL I KNIT YOU A HAT?
“The Klise sisters team up to show that the giving is just as important as the gift.”
-The New York Times
“The acrylic artwork glows with humor and radiates warmth. The author and artist, sisters who have collaborated on several illustrated novels, make a promising picture-book debut here.”
-Booklist
“A sweet tale of gift giving and friendship. . . . This is a good selection for holiday sharing”
-School Library Journal
“The Klises consistently sound notes of tenderness and humor. Images of Little Rabbit’s headgear sketches and Mother Rabbit’s method of clandestinely taking measurements are a hoot.”
-Publishers Weekly
“Shall I Knit You a Hat? is a warm and colorful story for children, families, and adults during the holiday season. The story is enchanting and the illustrations are colorful whimsy that is very engaging. With a complete Rabbit hat pattern for infant through age three years included, needle artists will particularly love it.”
-Armchair Interviews
“Heart-warming.”
-Richmond Times-Dispatch
WHY DO YOU CRY?
The rabbit duo from Shall I Knit You a Hat? returns for a gentle tale that explains how no one ever really outgrows tears. There’s no crying at age five –at least that’s what Little Rabbit, on the verge of his fifth birthday, believes. “I’m done with crying . . . Crying is for babies, and I’m not a baby anymore,” he tells his mother. What’s more, anyone else who cries is disinvited to his birthday party. The cat confesses to tears, for example, “when I’m alone and it’s dark and the shadows on the wall look like big, mean monsters.” The bunny soon discovers this exclusionary policy will rule out not only all of his friends, but his mother, too. Kate Klise skillfully handles the matter of grownups who cry. Mother Rabbits explains that a sad movie or a toothache can move her to tears, as can the “proud and happy” feeling she gets when she sees how far her little one has come. A celebration ensues (and readers will spot Mother Rabbit dabbing her eyes as she takes in this milestone event). M. Sarah Klise sidesteps preciousness by virtue of her crisp shapes and radiant, saturated colors. Her depiction of crying animals strikes just the right tone: pale blue droplets simply tumble out of their eyes, as if the tears were a force of nature and not a sign of weakness. Those on the cusp of kindergarten should find the Klise sisters’ message a source of comfort. (Ages 3 – 7)
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
This reassuring tale features the characters from Shall I Knit You a Hat?(Holt, 2004). Almost five, Little Rabbit decides that he is all done with crying. He wants to have a grown-up birthday party, with guests who have also outgrown crying. As he extends his invitations, he is surprised to learn that his friends still shed tears, and for a variety of reasons. The squirrel admits to crying when feeling left out of a game and the cat cries when frightened. The horse's silly explanation helps keep the tone light: I cry…when I try a new hairstyle and don't like the way I look. Little Rabbit returns home disappointed, only to discover that Mother Rabbit still cries too, sometimes even when she is happy. The warm acrylic illustrations have a retro quality and are full of humor and detail: Little Rabbit finds the cat at the fish market (naturally); the horse's new coiffure is a bit ridiculous; and the animals play pin the tail on the rabbit at the party. A great choice for reading aloud or one-on-one sharing, this tale will prompt comments from children, who will relate to the characters and enjoy the rich artwork.
–School Library Journal
This collaboration between sisters addresses a common developmental issue while telling an entertaining story. Little Rabbit decides that "Crying is for babies." With that in mind, he declares that only friends who don't cry can come to his birthday party. But his three best friends still cry, and they explain why. When it turns out that even his mother cries--sometimes because she is happy--Little Rabbit changes his mind about crying and about inviting his party guests. Delicious acrylic paintings, in a subdued but springlike palette, depict a cozy home, full of enjoyable visual details, and Little Rabbit's journey to see his friends offers a host of animals for children to name as well as some touches of sweet humor. The rhythm and repetition in the language and the tale will encourage children to predict the story's outcome.
-Booklist
IMAGINE HARRY
Most people have heard of Harvey the rabbit, Elwood P. Dowd's invisible pal. Here, the protagonist, Little Rabbit, has an invisible friend named Harry. They have all the usual fun, and Mother makes sure she gives Harry the requisite number of cookies and doesn't accidentally sit on him. When Little Rabbit starts school, Harry, comes too. One day, during a particularly fun music class, Harry tells Little Rabbit that he's going to take a nap. When Mother later asks Little Rabbit where Harry is, Little Rabbit admits with surprise that his friend has moved away. In words and art, this strikes just the right chord. The gentle yet witty text captures the importance of imaginary friends in a young child's life, even as it reinforces the idea that they disappear when no longer needed. The message plays out in beautifully crafted acrylic paintings that create a child's whole world—days both snowy and sunny, all kinds of friends, a household with scattered toys, and a warm mother-son relationship. The ending is nostalgic but true to a child's understanding.
–Booklist (starred review)
LITTLE RABBIT AND THE NIGHT MARE
"This engaging tale about a child's imagination and his strategies to confront his fears is told with gentle humor."
-School Library Journal
"Richly colored acrylic illustrations, with abundant details in both the classroom and bedroom scenes, feature a cheerful, comical assortment of animal classmates and a gentle, attentive mother, which lighten the seriousness of the story."
-Booklist
"The textured acrylics have fun with color, giving more than enough details to make readers want to linger on each page and explore a little longer."
-Horn Book
"Deeply opaque acrylics take Little Rabbit back and forth between his bedroom and a classroom populated with a menagerie of friends. A worthy introduction to puns."
-Kirkus Reviews
LITTLE RABBIT AND THE MEANEST MOTHER ON EARTH
Little Rabbit wants to attend the circus, and his mother says that he can, but first he has to clean his totally trashed playroom. After a failed attempt, he sneaks away to join the circus. If he can sell 100 tickets to his new act featuring the Meanest Mother on Earth, the ringmaster will be happy to have him join. Little Rabbit easily sells the tickets after spinning a web of exaggeration extolling the traits of his "Mysterious Marvel of a Maternal Monstrosity." He touts her as having two heads with green teeth and enjoying punishing the small and innocent. When he lures his mother to the Big Top, the crowd turns on him due to his false advertising. The woman guarantees to show them something really terrifying—Little Rabbit's playroom. The crowd is awed by the "Emporium of Odiferous Oddities," and Mother instructs them to take a souvenir or two on the way out. Soon the room is tidy and Little Rabbit declares that next time he will simply do it himself. Using single and double pages, the artist populates this story with an array of animals, plenty of detail, and the perfect mix of colors. Children should relate to this circus tale, and parents will enjoy how the mother saves the day.
-School Library Journal
Little Rabbit from Imagine Harry (2007) continues his adventures when the circus comes to town. When Mother says he must clean his room before he can go, Little Rabbit tells the ringmaster he has the Meanest Mother on Earth and can put her on display. That night at the big reveal, the crowd is displeased. Mother Rabbit doesn't even have two heads “to think up mean ways to punish the small and the innocent.” The Klises once again offer delightful storytelling and art, with winsome, decidedly toylike animal characters. Young fans will enjoy Little Rabbit's antics, even if his room does end up getting cleaned. -Booklist
GRAMMY LAMBY AND THE SECRET HANDSHAKE
How embarrassing! Grammy Lamby is coming to visit, but one little lamb is anything but pleased. Larry is continually rattled by his grandma, what with her secret handshake (which means “I love you”), her flouncy church clothes and loud voice and her extravagant plans for future travel (what if he doesn’t want to go?). Warm and appealing acrylic paintings with just the right amount of detail show Larry’s quiet distress and Grammy’s abundant character as she visits the Lamby home. Grammy is patient and kind despite her eccentricities, and when a summer storm frightens Larry and damages the house, fearless Grammy steps in and helps with comfort and repair. Maybe Grammy isn’t so embarrassing after all! How can Larry show her what he feels? Between a new secret handshake and a surprise that Grammy can open on the train, he is certain to find a way. While providing a nice acknowledgement of Larry’s feelings, this decidedly un-pedantic selection is replete with affection and gentle humor, from the simple text to the beguiling illustrations, and shows how feelings and perspectives can develop and change. Sister team Kate and M. Sarah Klise collaborated here and share some of their own grandma memories on the sleeve in this paean to embarrassing but wonderful grandmothers everywhere. A special treat for grandchildren and grandmas. (Picture book. 3-7)
-Kirkus
The Klise sisters (Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother on Earth) have once again hit the nail on the head: some relatives—okay, old relatives—fill kids with dread. Take Larry Lamb’s Grammy Lamby: she’s loud, boring, and clueless, sewing pink polka-dot pajamas for Larry, bellowing about “fabulous” adventures that just the two of them can take, and embarrassing him with her triple squeeze secret handshake. “He even said in his head, ‘Please (squeeze). Go (squeeze). Away (squeeze).’ ” Worst of all, Larry feels completely alone in his misery (his dislike of Grammy Lamby is his “big secret”). M. Sarah Klise’s assertively girly rendering style makes a terrific visual foil for the beleaguered hero’s humiliation and horror. When a big storm hits, Larry discovers that Grammy Lamby is actually a can-do dynamo, capable of rebuilding Larry’s damaged home and spearheading cleanup efforts for the entire valley. Most embarrassing relatives don’t get the opportunity to reveal another side of themselves as Grammy Lamby does, but this empathetic story may persuade readers that there’s a real human being behind that unfortunate gift or too-tight hug. Ages 4–8.
-Publishers Weekly
In the curious psychological landscape of small children, what in a parent is often embarrassing or odd can be embraceable and interesting in a grandparent. For some reason, grandparents get a pass. (Could it be all the chocolate sundaes on offer?) In three new picture books, grand-parents’ eccentricities, while occasionally sources of discomfort, are also—and ultimately—cause for delight. In “Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake,” written by Kate Klise and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise — a sister-sister team — it takes a while for Larry the lamb to appreciate his grandmother’s particularities. Though he is loath to admit it, “he didn’t always like when Grammy Lamby came to visit.” She loudly celebrates Larry’s cuteness in (pink polka-dotted!) pajamas she has sewn for him. She sings loudly at church. She loudly entertains plans of whisking Larry off to Tanzania or the South Seas. Grammy Lamby is simply too much; Larry is not sorry to see her leave. But Grammy Lamby comes back, greeting Larry with what she calls her “secret handshake”—three squeezes that signify “I love you.” And there she is again, drinking tea in the parlor and banging away at her sewing machine, a homespun thematic thread reflected in M. Sarah Klise’s acrylic illustrations, which feature patchwork prints, aprons and other Etsy-friendly details. Of course, as Larry finds out, Grammy Lamby isn’t just flounce and emotional flamboyance. When a summer storm hits, Grammy Lamby proves she’s also caring and capable.
Even her sewing machine comes in handy, patching Larry’s home and community back together again. And thus forms an authentic bond between grandma and grandson in this sweet but not treacly story. -New York Times
It is said that there is no love as perfect as that of a grandparent for a grandchild. That may be so, but unfortunately the intensity of feeling isn't always reciprocated. As devoted and indulgent as grandparents may feel they are, to the adored object they can also sometimes seem cranky or cloying or embarrassingly retrograde . . . The predicament of little Larry Lamb in Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake will be familiar to any child who has ever quailed at the beaming approach of a loving, looming grandparent. The sisterly duo of Kate Klise (perceptive text) and M. Sarah Klise (charming acrylic paintings) here gives us a painfully honest account of Larry's agony when his enthusiastic grandmother comes to visit. Grammy Lamby wears mortifyingly attention-getting clothes, has the loudest voice in church and loves to fantasize about exciting future adventures with her grandson on which he desperately does not want to go. Then there is her awful secret handshake, a squeeze-squeeze-squeeze that means "I love you." Larry is counting the days until his grandmother is supposed to leave when a destructive summer storm sweeps through. It is only in the wreckage of the storm's aftermath that, almost despite himself, Larry begins to see what a force for good his grandmother really is. By the time Grammy Lamby must leave, he is finally ready to return her special handshake—with an extra, reconciled squeeze.
-Wall Street Journal
There are plenty of books about the fun a grandparent and grandchild can share. This sprightly offering uses a different track . . . Kids will respond to the idea that no matter what they're supposed to think, they simply might not care for a particular relative. While the evolution here is dramatic, the idea that relationships can change is well reinforced. The adorable acrylic artwork is sturdy in shape yet precious in detail, and Klise gets maximum emotion from the body language of her characters as their feelings change. There will be an audience for this.
-Booklist
So, what's not to love about grandmothers? If you're Larry Lamb, plenty. When his grandma comes to stay, she likes to sip tea, wear a big hat, sing loudly in church, and insist on sharing a secret handshake that involves squeezing his hand three times to signal: I. Love. You. Larry's reaction? "Embarrassing." The Klise sisters give young readers an antidote to those sentimental books that gush over immediate and unconditional love between grandparents (even those who live far away) and children. That loves takes time and shared experiences. When a community catastrophe extends Grammy Lamby's visit, she and Larry slowly develop a bond. A gentle telling creates the story arc as animal characters (dressed as humans) allow readers to identify with the main players while also softening the initial problem. Sheep walking on spindly legs and giraffes singing in church set a lighthearted toned. Still, the idea that Grammy is at first overbearing toward Larry (who is seen in one illustration with calendar in hand counting the days until she leaves) is never in doubt. And, in a final spread, neither is his affection for her.
-The Horn Book
HOMESICK
Klise looks at the effects of hoarding and the struggles and joys of smalltown life in this honest, good-natured coming-of-age story set in the early 1980s. Twelve-year-old Benny’s mother leaves his father, whose hoarding has gotten out of control, heading for New Orleans with a promise to come back for Benny. With Benny’s father increasingly unable to care for himself or his son (he won’t let Benny throw away pizza boxes, convinced they will be valuable in the future), the boy spends his time with his loving and quirky neighbors, in particular his father’s best friend, Myron. Benny begins work at Myron’s fledgling radio station, transcribing amusing interviews with locals, including schoolteacher Miss Turnipson, who has entered their Missouri town in a contest to find “the most charming small town in America.” As Benny’s father deteriorates, the neighbors band together. While some things remain open-ended, matters still resolve in a surprising, slightly too-good-to-be-true, yet satisfying way. Klise conjures ample empathy for the residents of Dennis Acres—even Benny’s father who, despite his problems, has a gift for foresight (sometimes). Ages 10–14.
-Publishers Weekly
"Quirky and delightful on its surface, this poignant picture book opens the door to deeper considerations of eventual loss . . . and the precious value of taking care of the ones you love."
-The Horn Book (starred review)
"Who says bucket lists are just for humans? Not the Klise sisters who gracefully trace a girl’s growing awareness of her dog’s impending death . . . Readers will gradually come to understand that the way Astrid and Eli have been spending their time is less important than the fact that they’ve spent it together. The Klises close with an image of girl and dog watching the sunset over the water, a moment that—like the book as a whole—is both emotionally restrained and full of feeling."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
THE CIRCUS GOES TO SEA
In the third installment of the endearing Three-Ring Rascals chapter books, Sir Sidney's circus brings cruise-ship entertainment to a new level, and Brambles' heart grows as large as an ocean. Sir Sidney continues to work with his manager, Barnabas Brambles, on being kind. Bert and Gert, the circus mice, see a long road ahead, but little do they know a sea change is coming. A letter from a Miss LaPasta arrives, inviting the circus aboard a cruise ship—all except Brambles! Miss LaPasta has "heard he's the meanest man alive." With that, Sir Sidney determines they will go, with Brambles. It's only after they embark that they discover that Miss LaPasta is a lonely child who did not tell her mother, Capt. LaPasta, about the invitation. Worse, Sir Sidney is laid low by seasickness, while Brambles becomes lovesick for the captain. And although the ensemble thrills the passengers with their antics and acts, the unhappy captain sees ruin and disaster. Then they hit an iceberg! The adventures are captured in text that fully integrates art and speech bubbles, geography lessons are gratis, and the climax is marked by a meatball version of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." All's well that ends with wedding bells. With this series, youngsters will find reading smooth sailing and look forward to future escapades. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10) -Kirkus Reviews
GREETINGS FROM THE GRAVEYARD
Who knew that Ignatius B. Grumply’s proposal of 21 years ago would come back to haunt him? Now that he’s a rich and famous author, Nadia’s interest is renewed. She’ll stop at nothing to get his money. After two convicts escape from prison, Ghastly experiences an unexpected crime streak. Enter Olive’s long-dead butler and the new family business of creating greeting cards. Readers will find plenty of clues to sort through as they pour over the newspaper articles, letters, text messages, and art that we’ve come to anticipate in the series.
-School Library Journal
THE GREATEST STAR ON EARTH
As our story begins, a close-knit band of circus performers learns of a contest devised by a mysterious newspaper publisher. One performer will win a trophy for best act, and everyone from Leo the lion to Tiger the singing cat wants that trophy. Badly. Soon, brother is plotting against brother (literally, in the case of the Famous Flying Banana Brothers). The story zips along, the text and illustrations are full of playful surprises, and the author sustains a tone of rare and genuine sweetness . . . My younger son (age 10) swiped my copy and looked up from his reading just long enough to announce, "Whoever wrote this book really remembers what kids like."Who is the best performer? That is the question in this second in the entertaining Three-Ring Rascals chapter-book series.
-Chicago Tribune
The premise is quickly established: Polly Pumpkinseed, publisher of the Circus Times, decides to sponsor a contest to determine who is best in Sir Sidney’s circus. Sir Sidney thinks his stars are all great and doesn’t want anyone to have their feelings hurt. He smells trouble ahead. More to the point: He actually develops a worrywart on his nose and is directed to rest, leaving the circus in Barnabas Brambles’ hands. With circus mice Bert and Gert once again acting as his conscience, Barnabas behaves tolerably well this time. But Elsa the elephant, Leo the lion and the Famous Flying Banana Brothers become consumed with the contest. The story and the language trips along, as do the performers in their misguided efforts to win. As before, Gert’s invented expressions are sprinkled throughout, sure to arouse giggles (“elephant + bellyflop = eleflop”). Illustrations, complete with speech bubbles, are seamlessly interwoven with the text to capture the action and misadventures. There’s even a rousing song as the story moves toward its conclusion, asking “Can Three-Ring Rascals make this end okay?” Indeed, when they pull together, they can! Absurd situations, winning characters and plenty of heartfelt moments and laughs combine to make this a surefire hit. (Graphic fiction hybrid. 7-10)
-Kirkus Reviews
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
"With their new series Three-Ring Rascals, the Klise sisters introduce readers to the sweetest circus in the world. Sir Sidney, a modern-day Atticus Finch, is getting too old to take care of his circus and its lovable animals, Elsa the elephant, Bert and Gert the mice, Leon the lion and Old Coal the crow. Can the circus survive the new owner Barnabas Brambles and his evil to-do list? Intended for ages 7 to 10 or grades 2 to 5, this book has a little something for every kid: simple cartoon illustrations, wordplay, the occasional math problem, a farting lion and a big mean baddie with breath that 'smelled vaguely of grilled onions and spoiled milk.' The Klise sisters are no newcomers to the world of children’s fiction. Their work is cute and fun with a great message: 'No matter if you’re young or old — if you’re kind, you’re good as gold.'"
-Brittany Hart, The New Orleans Advocate
"Sir Sidney, owner of Sir Sidney’s Circus, is considering retirement—but who will fill his shoes? A gentle soul, he prides his circus on its solicitous treatment of animals (daily groomings for Leo the lion; fresh imported peanuts for Elsa the elephant; plenty of rest between shows) and warm attitude toward audiences (free admission for children; complimentary popcorn). “Certified Lion Tamer” Barnabas Brambles wins the chance to take over the circus for a one-week trial run, but his obsession with turning a profit quickly (more shows! higher prices! worse food!) lands the circus in dire straits. As the group travels around the country, making accidental pit-stops atop various famous monuments and missing shows left and right, Brambles grows increasingly mean and miserly, and the animals grow more frustrated—all except problem-solving mice Bert and Gert, who serve as both peanut gallery and intrepid kid stand-ins as they work to save the circus. Brambles’s schemes reap comic (and karmic) consequences that directly undermine his endgame, and readers will enjoy tracing each bad choice to its disastrous conclusion. Black-and-white spot illustrations appear on almost every page, bringing the gawky-limbed characters (animal and human alike) to life and interacting dynamically with the text. The Klises maintain a light touch with the messaging, giving the book a comforting thematic unity around the importance of kindness; and humor is apparent in every detail, from the smallest conversational exchanges to the
extravagantly silly set pieces that mark the book’s major plot points. Readers will eagerly await the next volume of over-the-(big)-top hijinks."
-Claire E. Gross, The Horn Book
"The owner of Sir Sidney’s Circus needs a vacation, and after reviewing and interviewing many potential circus managers, he chooses Barnabas Brambles, a graduate of the University of Piccadilly Circus in London with a degree in lion taming. But Barnabas is in need of making money and changes Sir Sidney’s Circus schedule and pricing for his own profit and treats the animals poorly. Things seem to go wrong almost from the start, and he cancels all but the final show of the week. Barnabas is a complete fraud and knows nothing of circus life, yet Sir Sidney believes that the scoundrel can be a better man tomorrow. Whimsical illustrations are generously positioned throughout the text and play a key role in the book’s pacing. Beginning chapter-book readers will thoroughly enjoy this fun and fast-paced title, which has lessons in kindness along the way."
–Patty Saidenberg, School Library Journal
"Kate Klise, author of the wildly punny 43 Old Cemetery Road and Regarding series, turns to a slightly younger audience in this amusing series opener. After years of developing his traveling circus into one of the best shows in the world, old and tired Sir Sidney decides he needs some help. He hires Barnabas Brambles for a one-week trial run, but it’s clear that the smarmy certified lion tamer is more concerned with making money than respecting the performers and talking circus animals. When Brambles tries to add more cities to their tour, sell off some of the older animals, and allow the directionless Famous Flying Banana Brothers to navigate the circus train, plenty of high jinks ensue, including getting stuck atop the Saint Louis Arch. Playful black-and-white illustrations and creative language—in the form of sight gags, coined words, speech bubbles, letters, and phone texts—keep the story lively. Math teachers will especially appreciate Brambles’ profit calculations throughout. A big-top introduction to the author’s quirky humor."
— Angela Leeper, Booklist
"Elderly Sir Sidney loves his circus, and he pampers his animals and performers, as well as the two mice and crow who are part of its extended family. When he decides to take some time off, he hires brash Barnabas Brambles, who promises to care for the circus with the same doting attention as Sir Sidney. As soon as the kindhearted owner leaves, though, Barnabas reveals his true plans, and they do not involve any doting; the top of his to-do list reads, “Make $$$ for me.” With a terrible meanie in charge (Barnabas intends to increase the number of shows, charge more, and sell beloved animals), things look grim, but the circus folk hold onto their humor in this sweetly nutty kickoff to the Klise sisters’ Three Ring Rascals series. Cartoon spot illustrations play up the comical mood—mice Bert and Gert deploy quips left and right, and the circus train spends a great deal of time atop the St. Louis Arch—in this free-spirited story that concludes with a lesson in kindness and a promise of more fun to come." Ages 7–10.
-Publishers Weekly
"In this entertaining chapter book, the first in a series, readers meet kind Sir Sidney and the gentle performers and hands in his circus. But Sir Sidney is tired and leaves the circus under the management of new-hire Barnabas Brambles for a week. That Sir Sidney is beloved by all is quickly established, presenting a sharp contrast to the bully Brambles. The scoundrel immediately comes up with a “to do” list that includes selling the animals and eliminating the mice Bert and Gert. (Gert is almost more distressed by Brambles’ ill-fitting suit and vows to tailor it.) Revealed almost entirely through dialogue, the put-upon animals’solidarity is endearing. The story, like the circus train now driven by the Famous Flying Banana Brothers, takes absurd loops and turns. The art is fully integrated, illustrating the action and supplementing the text with speech bubbles, facsimile letters and posters, Brambles’ profit-and-loss notes, examples of Gert’s invented vocabulary and more. Brambles’ plans go awry, of course, and he gets his comeuppance. With Bert and Gert acting as his conscience, along with a suit from Gert that finally fits and a dose of forgiveness, Brambles makes a turnaround. Sensitive children may doubt Sir Sidney’s wisdom in leaving his animals with an unscrupulous man, and the closing message is a tad
didactic, but that doesn’t blunt the fun too much. Most children will agree the book is 'smafunderful (smart + fun + wonderful).'” (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10)
-Kirkus
HOLLYWOOD, DEAD AHEAD
"This fifth hilarious excursion to Seymour Hope’s address in Ghastly, Ill., takes the little, idiosyncratic family to Hollywood when an unscrupulous movie mogul decides to film their stories. Young Seymour and ghost Olive can’t wait to become movie stars, while crotchety Ignatius remains cautious. Pushed into it by majority rule, Ignatius signs the lengthy contract, only to learn later that he has signed away all rights to the trio’s books, past and future, for no compensation whatsoever. When they arrive in Hollywood, everything goes wrong. Ignatius becomes consumed with his image makeover, especially his new teeth. Seymour auditions to play himself in the movie and wins the part, but Olive fumes because the movie company ignores her (she is invisible, after all). They find an ally in Ivana Oscar, the 92-year-old former star tapped to play Olive when Ivana learns that her contract demands her death in order to boost profits for the film. As always, the comedy depends on deliberately awful puns, especially in the characters’names, such as Moe Block Busters, Hugh Briss and Phillip D. Rubbish. M. Sarah Klise’s exuberant drawings contribute half of the book’s content. Kate Klise delivers the text in the form of letters, memos and newspaper articles, with humor stuffed into every corner. Another winner for this inventive series." (Humor. 8-12)
-Kirkus
DYING TO MEET YOU
"Kate Klise fleshes out the plot with back stories on the house, Seymour's catastrophic, absent parents and Olive's haunting of the house. Suspense intrudes when Seymour's parents reappear and decide to demolish it. Everywhere they look, readers will find comedy, even in the headers on the letters and character names. Of course it's all going to come out magnificently in the end, thereby setting up the next book in the planned series. A quirky, comedic romp."
-Kirkus
"This epistolary graphic mystery may take genre-bending into the realm of genre-pretzeling, but it still delivers an unlikely story with a great deal of likability."
-Booklist
"The fun here is in the narrative equipment— letters, e-mails, newspaper extracts, floor plan, cast list, etc., and in the embedded jokes, such as Cliff Hanger (the editor of The Ghastly Times) and Frank N. Beans (the private investigator) . . . young mock-gothic fans will nonetheless be eager to revisit 43 Old Cemetery Road in the anticipated sequels."
-Horn Book
"This first title in a new series will appeal to readers, especially reluctant ones, as it moves quickly and leaves its audience eager for book two, which is announced in this ghastly and fun tale."
-School Library Journal
"This fresh, funny launch of the 43 Old Cemetery Road series introduces an eccentric cast with pun-tastic names . . . the story is light enough for more tentative readers, with many humorous details to reward those who look closer."
-Publishers Weekly
". . . a frothy little confection, whose enjoyability comes as much, if not more, from the format and side jokes . . . as from the main plot. The story is a pleasant example of the supernatural sitcom . . . an engaging and easy-going read. Illustrations, mostly vigorous line portraits drawn by ‘Seymour,' add additional invitation to the accessible pages.”
-The Bulletin for Children's Books
OVER MY DEAD BODY
“The laughter continues in this second installment of the Klises' series about a ghost and her friends. As in the first book, Dying to Meet You (2009), the entire story is told through letters, newspaper articles and the like and is adorned with M. Sarah Klise's amusing line drawings. Dramatic tension builds when elderly writer I.B. Grumply and his charge, the abandoned boy Seymour, are carted off to an insane asylum and an orphanage, respectively. Ghost-in-Residence Olive breaks them out and does her best to see that all villains get what they deserve. A dreaded government agent tries not only to break up the happy partnership but to outlaw Halloween. Worse, he turns the town against the trio, endangering their livelihood — publishing a serialized illustrated mystery. Much of the town of Ghastly, Ill., gets involved in the excitement, with characters sporting names appropriate to their callings, such as the locksmith, Ike N. Openitt. Even the addresses on the letters add to the comedy of this light, diverting romp.” (Ages 8 to 12) -Kirkus
TILL DEATH DO US BARK
The third installment in this cheery little series set in the town of Ghastly adds several new characters: siblings Kitty and Kanine Breth and a dog loud enough to wake the dead. Once again, the sisters Klise deliver their story through letters, newspaper articles, notes and transcripts, all illustrated with M. Sarah Klise’s delightfully imaginative drawings. Seymour finds a dog, which everyone knows was owned by the recently deceased Noah Breth and which Seymour intends to keep. The dog, “Secret,” barks all night, however, disturbing even ghosts. Shadow the cat disappears, while Olive and Ignatius begin squabbling. Attempting to restore harmony, Seymour takes Secret and leaves. Meanwhile, the greedy heirs of Noah Breth arrive to squabble over his fortune. Rare coins keep turning up all over town. Everyone looks for Seymour and Secret. As always, the authors keep readers giggling with the clever, usually death-related names invented for their characters (M. Balm, Fay Tality and Mike Ondolences). Phrases turn nicely as well: During a written and rather heated conversation between Ignatius and Olive, she writes, “I refuse to continue this conversation if you’re going to raise your font at me.”Good, merry fun dances on every page, with bubbling humor for child and adult alike. (Humor. 8-12)
-Kirkus
Seymour lives in a haunted house with his newly adoptive parents, famous author Ignatius B. Grumply and the ghost of Olive C. Spence. When a stray dog named Secret follows Seymour home from the library one day, Seymour is thrilled. Seymour later learns that Secret has been recently orphaned by his deceased owner, Noah Breth. Breth was a wealthy man, but his children didn't have much to do with him. Suddenly, they've appeared on the scene, ready to inherit their fortunes, fighting with one another over who will get what. As events unfold and Breth's fortune appears in the strangest places, there is still a piece of the puzzle missing. Through a series of letters and newspaper clippings, this hilarious story will have kids clamoring to figure out this mystery.
-Kendal A. Rautzhan, Special to The Day
REGARDING THE FOUNTAIN
“The Klise sisters have created a classic of comic children’s literature.”
-Claire Dederer, Reviewer for Amazon.com
“An unequivocal delight.”
-Kirkus (Pointer Review)
“A mystery with an unconventional, yet fun and effective approach…Fresh, funny, and a delight to read.”
-School Library Journal
“The hilarious shenanigans are unremitting; the puns flow faster than the leaks in the old fountain. And the splendiferous new fountain, when it arrives, is a credit to the unfettered imagination.”
-Horn Book
“…The real joy of the story is in the Klises’ clever blend of text and image.”
-Children's Literature
“…Rollicking story.”
-Publishers Weekly
REGARDING THE SINK
In this sequel to Regarding the Fountain (HarperCollins, 1998), Florence Waters, the artist who designed the school fountain, is needed to design a new cafeteria sink, but she is missing. Finding her becomes the focus of the sixth-grade class from Geyser Creek Middle School in Missouri. A U.S. Senator, the principal's rich mother, Chinese Sinkiang Blinking Spotted Suckerfish, big business, and beans all play a role in this mystery that eventually leads to a class trip to China. The story is conveyed through letters, student drawings and poems, advertisements, e-mails, school assignments, facsimiles, stock reports, newspaper articles, a variety of other kinds of documents, and cartoons. Each page is designed to look like the kind of document it represents. Piecing the story and clues together is satisfying. Introduce this book to savvy readers who are ready for the jump to a clever, unconventional reading experience.
–School Library Journal
The cast, dynamic format, and some of the same plot elements that appeared in the Klise sisters' Regarding the Fountain (1998) enjoy a reprise here. This time, Geyser Creek Middle School's principal isn't pleased with the sixth-grade's enthusiasm for reconnecting with fountain-designer Florence Waters to help resolve the school's need for a cafeteria sink. While the kids attempt to contact Ms. Waters and grow increasingly concerned about her silence, the reader has an opportunity to sift through the newspaper accounts about evil Senator MOM and other stories that have a bearing on Ms. Waters. The subplot concerning the principal's e-mail attempts to get his staff to cease communication via nonelectronic means will amuse adults more than kids, but the array of nicely designed documentation (sketches, handwritten cards, etc.) and the twist at the end of the story will keep many young bibliophiles content.
-Booklist
REGARDING THE TREES
The doyennes of the double meaning offer a third visit to the Missouri hamlet of Geyser Creek, whose residents are now regarding two crises. One is middle-school Principal Wally Russ's "Proposal" to Flo Waters, which he supposes is only to cut down a century-old weeping willow to save his job (She thinks otherwise); the other a bitter culinary rivalry between the Geyser Creek Cafe's Angel Fisch and Chef Angelo of newly opened Caffe Angelo that has blossomed into a town-wide split between the sexes. As in previous episodes, these and other intertwined plotlines are entirely leafed out through letters, memos, newspaper reports and ads, archival documents and chalkboard notes, all printed in various typefaces with the occasional ink-and-wash vignette grafted in. Led by crusading classmate Minnie "Ax not! It's what you can do for your country" O., the six sixth-graders plant themselves right in the middle of it all, and by the end have helped to save the tree, nip the bad report of school inspector Leif Blite in the bud and turn intended "weedings" into multiple "weddings." Consistently clever and often hilarious, this and its series mates may well become perennial favorites with young readers. -Kirkus
REGARDING THE BATHROOMS
Using the highly successful format introduced in Regarding the Fountain (Avon, 1998), Klise offers readers another punny tale about the kids at Geyser Creek Middle School. In preparation for a conference that will be held at his school, Principal Russ re-hires Florence Waters to renovate the bathrooms in the basement. She enlists the help of the children attending summer school, who discover that the school was built on the site of the Geyser Creek Bath and Spas. They find more than just the spa during their summer, including escaped convicts and buried artifacts. The tale is told exclusively through heavily illustrated letters, memos, newspaper articles, and police reports, and it includes multiple subplots that are tied up neatly at the end. Puns and bathroom humor are rampant in this clever, funny romp. A must for fans of the series.
–School Library Journal
Principal Russ wants to clean up Geyser Creek Middle School's dilapidated bathrooms before an upcoming conference, but plans go awry when more pressing issues arise: two convicts are on the loose; Chef Angelo's marriage to Angel Fisch may be on the rocks; an international crime ring seems to have a local connection; and the bathrooms may be more than they appear. Students are busy with summer internships, but thanks to their savvy, persistent detective work, the multiple difficulties are overcome. Told through letters, articles, and cartoonlike illustrations, the fourth book in Klise's series, which began with Regarding the Fountain (1998), is another witty, delightful novel with a colorful cast of characters, multiple mix-ups, and mayhem, intertwined with a history of bathrooms stretching back to Roman times, including their uses as social spaces and even galleries. Puns abound, and there are a few bathroom jokes, though nothing really crass enough to compromise an entertaining novel that celebrates community and history.
-Booklist
REGARDING THE BEES
This addition to the series follows the Geyser Creek Middle School kids to seventh grade where they have to take the dreaded BEEs—Basic Education Evaluation. If the students do not pass, they must repeat all of middle school. And to make matters worse, their teacher, Sam N., is filling in for Mr. Russ as principal. But not to worry—he has enlisted the help of Florence Waters, fountain designer, as substitute teacher. She teaches the class via correspondence, sending assignments to the children while she's off gathering more information about bees to share with them. The story follows the series format of using letters, notes, faxes, and other correspondence to relate the goings-on. As the events progress, the students share their concerns about boyfriends/girlfriends and the upcoming dance. They also learn to have some compassion for a class whose teacher is using some underhanded methods to insure her students win the coveted Show Me Spelling Bee. Fans of the series will appreciate this installment, reluctant readers will be drawn to the format, and more advanced readers will appreciate the wordplay and puns sprinkled throughout.
-School Library Journal
LETTERS FROM CAMP
Anyone who has been to summer camp will delight in this wild spoof of camp life told entirely in letters, memos, and whimsical illustrations, in a format similar to the Klises' Regarding the Fountain (1998). Three sets of brothers and sisters who hate each other find themselves trapped in Camp Happy Harmony, which promises to teach battling siblings love and respect. But the Harmony family, a crowd of has-been singers, turn out to be thieving con-artists plotting to murder each other. Led by the egotistical Darlene Harmony, the family uses the campers for drudge work, assigning them to paint buildings and build fences, feeding them drugged dinners and very little else. Darlene is trying to kill off the handyman, while two of the Harmonys (one of whom isn't even a real Harmony brother) are trying to poison the other four. The campers, also oddballs, rise to the occasion by learning to cook, spying on the Harmonys, cracking the mystery, and exposing the Harmonys' crimes to the world. Along the way they also come to love one another. The illustrations are as important as the writing, allowing readers to become detectives and discover clues in the letters and pictures. Every character and every plot development is thoroughly silly, and every single one contributes to the charm of this novel. A real treat, ideal for having on hand for camp care packages. (Fiction. 8-12)
-Kirkus
Like the Klises Regarding the Fountain (Avon, 1998), this quirky, humorous novel is told through letters, memos, shopping receipts, ledger entries, post-its, and news articles. Three brother/sister pairs are signed up by their parents for a month at Camp Harmony, where they are to work on their inharmonious sibling relationships with the Harmonys, six over-the-hill siblings who were once a popular family singing act. Barbie Q. and Brisket Roast from Texas, Ivan and Mimi Gems from London, and Charlie and Charlotte Lee from Illinois quickly realize how strange the camp is, with its nonstop chores and terrible food. They also realize that the Harmonys dont really like one another. In fact, they seem to be trying to kill one another off. Ivan, an aspiring mystery writer, is in his element as the youngsters put aside their own squabbles, unite against the adults, and try to discover the truth. Ironically, in the process, the siblings learn to get along, just as the brochure promised. With copious black-and-white sketches, each page is a collage of written evidence through which the story unfolds not as a straightforward narrative, but rather piecemeal like a puzzle. The book has clearly drawn heroes and villains, lots of puns and knee-slapping shenanigans, and the illicit thrill of reading other peoples mail. A bit cute and chaotic, this novel will attract students with a wacky sense of humor who enjoy piecing together a mystery.
-School Library Journal
TRIAL BY JOURNAL
“The story is crazy, the storytelling hilarious and you might even learn what it means to be on a jury.”
-Children's Literature
“...Read on for the pleasure of the unraveling...scheme and for the linguistic pleasures Kate Klise provides. Artist M. Sarah Klise matches her sister’s sense of fun with outrageous layouts and sketches throughout the text.”
-Horn Book
“A clever, entertaining mystery with a protagonist who learns about the legal process and about keeping an open mind.”
-Booklist
“The authors of Letters From Camp (1999) again take diaristic fiction to another level with a tale of grown-up chicanery told entirely in correspondence, casual sketches, printed ephemera, receipts, newspaper pages, advertisements, transcripts of radio news programs, and journal entries. Despite the lack of a body, everyone in Tyleville believes that slow-witted loner Bob White has killed 11-year-old Perry Keet. Thanks to a new state law, Perry’s classmate Lily gets an insider’s view of the ensuing trial, for she is chosen to sit on Bob White’s jury, even though it means being sequestered and losing weeks of school. Lily’s journal, along with notes and sketches from fellow jurors, link a sheaf of circumstantial evidence that gradually points not to Bob, but to Tyleville’s resident tycoon, Rhett Tyle, and his secret confederate, Anna Conda. They are con artists who had been planning to turn the local zoo’s huge snake collection into a line of designer fashions, but are now preparing for a quick getaway after auctioning off the oeuvre of the zoo’s new star attraction: a gorilla named Priscilla, who has suddenly started painting recognizable pictures. Sound complicated? That’s only an overview but the Klises keep it all in the air with expertly timed revelations, distinct character voices, and seemingly bottomless reserves of droll, inventive humor, and readers get a surprisingly credible look at how the jury system works.”
-Kirkus
“The sisters Klise once again use the format they mastered in Regarding the Fountain to cleverly recount Lily Watson’s experience as the “first juvenile juror in the state's history.” This three-ring circus, with Lily as capable ringmaster, will set in motion readers’flights of fancy from beginning to end, when a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”receives his comeuppance and the innocent “jailbird” is set free.
-Publishers Weekly
GROUNDED
Dark humor melds with genuine pathos in Klise's delightful and moving novel, set in Digginsville, Missouri, during the early 1970s. Twelve-year-old Daralynn Oakland is devastated when her father and siblings die in a plane crash. Angry and heart-broken, Daralynn's mother gets a job as hairstylist at the local funeral parlor, while Daralynn comes up with the idea of a “living funeral,” where people can hear their own eulogy and have a chance to thank family and friends. The living funeral is a huge hit until Clem Monroe comes to town and starts a crematorium, undermining the funeral home's business. Klise loves a mystery, which the charming yet sinister Clem provides in spades. She also uses letters, newspaper articles, and journal entries to excellent effect. However, it's the journey through grief and the quirky characters (such as the senile grandma who takes to feeding and burping all of Daralynn's dolls) that stay with the reader. This quiet story illuminates and celebrates the human need for connection beyond the grave.
-Booklist
In 12-year-old Daralynn's world of '60s TV dinners and Perry Mason, “B.C.” marks the time before the small-plane crash that killed her father, brother and sister, and “A.D.” is “After the Deaths.” Daralynn's mother hardens her heart after the tragedy, and her pragmatic daughter does her darnedest to follow suit. The small-town–Missouri story—despite all the corpses, funerals and cremations—is not so much about death as about coping with grief. Lively, comical details, described in Daralynn's matter-of-fact first-person voice, keep the story buoyant, such as when Daralynn mistakes a girl for a boy at her mother's hair salon and gives her a Marlon Brando–inspired haircut she hastily dubs “Le Frenchie,” and when she infers the town's new crematorium will be an ice-cream parlor. In the sentimental end, this salty-sweet, nut-sprinkled novel underscores the “grounding” that comes with caring for people, whether it's flashy-trashy Aunt Josie and her boardinghouse gentlemen, senile Mamaw poignantly nurturing her dolls or, most powerfully of all, Daralynn and her mother finding their way back to each other.
-Kirkus
Daralynn Oakland's life in Digginsville , Missouri , changes dramatically when her father, older brother, and younger sister all die in a plane crash. Her mother becomes an angry widow and lets Daralynn out of the house only to accompany her to work at her beauty parlor and her stylist job at Danielson Family Funeral Home. When Clem's Crematorium arrives in town and threatens her mother's livelihood, Daralynn decides to investigate the owner, Clem Monroe (who has become involved with her aunt Josie), in an attempt to uncover secrets about him and his unusual business. This improbably lighthearted mystery, told from Daralynn's entertainingly candid perspective, deals with death and its aftermath in a straightforward style that puts the "fun back in funeral." Daralynn's complex relationships with her mother, aunt, and uncle (a recent Vietnam War veteran); her humorous descriptions of her senile, doll-loving grandmother, Mamaw; and her struggles to come to terms with her grief add depth, making the book about more than just the mystery Daralynn solves. At its core, this story is about the importance of becoming "grounded"-of overcoming one's own loss by helping someone else-a hopeful message to learn in trying times.
-Horn Book
Klise (the 43 Old Cemetery Road series) spins an insightful story about loss and family, set in the tiny town of Digginsville, Mo., told from the plainspoken perspective of 12-year-old Daralynn Oakland. Her brother, sister, and father die in a plane crash, leaving her with her brusque mother, who refuses help or sympathy, and her senile grandmother. Her mother keeps herself busy with a new job as a hairstylist at the local funeral home, while Daralynn is stuck at home, eating frozen dinners ("After the grief casseroles tapered off, Mother lost the will to cook"), examining her life B.C. (Before the Crash) and A.D. (After the Deaths), and recording letters to her siblings and father in her Pertinent Facts & Important Information book. When the mysterious Mr. Clem opens a crematorium nearby and steals the heart of Daralynn's vivacious Aunt Josie, it poses a threat to the funeral home's business, and the town. Balancing Daralynn's family tragedy with gentle humor and an evocative late-1960s setting, Klise's writing is refreshingly matter-of-fact and studded with simple, powerful images and memorable, entertaining characters. Ages 9–13.
-Publishers Weekly
DELIVER US FROM NORMAL
In Normal, Illinois, sixth-grader Charles Harrisong feels that his family is anything but normal. Because he is intensely self-conscious, almost everything humiliates Charles past endurance, and in truth his classmates do tease him for being different. Yet the very family who so embarrasses Charles is also a source of strength and support. When, after a cruel incident at school, his sister Clara points out that Charles isn't just shy, that the other kids' treatment of him "made him shy," the Harrisongs pack up their belongings and move to a houseboat they bought sight unseen. This reckless action isn't altogether plausible, but Klise's ear for family dynamics is dead-on, with each family member precisely and delicately drawn as the family relationships shift with their risky move. Klise's previous books (Regarding the Fountain, etc.) used devices such as letters and newspaper clippings to assemble the story; in this, her first straightforward narrative, she shows a gift for getting inside her narrator, delivering his perceptions with immediacy and self-deprecating
humor. Readers will hope for a sequel to this touching, funny book.
-Horn Book
PEOPLE reporter Kate Klise, author of five previous books for young readers, has written a quirky coming-of-age tale for the 10-14 crowd. Starring goofy but loveable Charles Harrisong, a boy from Normal, Ill., it's about standing out in all the wrong ways.
-People
Klise, better known for oddball mysteries, goes here for a more character-driven family story, narrated by an 11-year-old middle child edging toward serious depression. Compiling lists like "The Most Embarrassing Things in My Life," Charles Harrisong glumly records efforts of his hardworking parents to make ends meet, the tumultuous teasing and tears at home among his four siblings and his own unsuccessful efforts to escape the jeering notice of his middle school's in-crowd. Just beneath these seemingly routine trappings, however, lurks a far more rewarding tale, for the Harrisongs are one of those uncommon (at least, in literature) species, a cohesive nuclear family whose members, for all their occasional fallings-out, love and respect each other to pieces. Better yet, Klise doesn't tell, she shows, leading readers gradually into the hearts and spirits of her characters-while taking those characters on a seriocomic odyssey of their own, as they impetuously leave their rented Illinois home for a leaky houseboat off the Alabama coast, and a well-earned fresh start. Nothing "normal" here.
-Kirkus (starred review)
FAR FROM NORMAL
In this quirky sequel to Deliver Us from Normal (2005), precocious 14-year-old Charles Harrisong sells an article to a national magazine, describing his working-class family's flight from Normal, Illinois, to escape small-town prejudice and live an atypical life aboard a houseboat. The article comes under the scrutiny of superstore Bargain Bonanza, which threatens to sue because Charles has maligned its clothing in print. The chain agrees to drop the issue if the Harrisongs will promote its new "Normal" brand of sportswear, power tools, and laxatives. Though they are given a rent-free Dallas penthouse and all the "Bonanza Bucks" they can spend, the Harrisongs are unhappy, and they quickly hatch a daring plan to escape the reality television show that has become their life. Riffing on commercialism and the cult of celebrity, Klise's narrative often feels contrived and over the top, but middle-school students who enjoyed the first novel will appreciate this sequel, whose offbeat humor is reminiscent of Gordon Korman and David Lubar.
-Booklist
STAND STRAIGHT, ELLA KATE
Born in 1872 and brought up on a farm in Missouri, Ella Kate Ewing began to grow so quickly that she soon towered over her friends. Though her parents vow to protect Ella Kate from name-calling and taunts by keeping her at home, at 18 she ventures out to earn money as a museum exhibit in Chicago. Later, Ella Kate sees the world and makes her fortune by appearing in exhibitions and circuses as “THE TALLEST LADY ON EARTH.” When people are cruel, she maintains her dignity by remembering her parents' admonition to “Stand straight, Ella Kate.” Based on the real Ella Ewing and told from her point of view, this intriguing picture book ends with a page of information about her medical condition (gigantism) and her remarkable life. Although the book's well-paced, lightly fictionalized story underscores Ella Kate's dignity and generosity, it includes many height-related incidents that will intrigue and amuse children. The acrylic paintings reflect the tone of the text while illustrating the narrative with warmth, wit, and style. The book's factual basis makes its underlying message more powerful. Readers will enjoy watching this sympathetic character gradually come to accept her unusual height and make the most of it.
-Booklist (starred Review)
Ella Kate Ewing had gigantism, a glandular disorder that gave her an adult height of 8 feet 4 inches and size 24 feet. Her story is told in the first person, recounting how troubled she was by teasing in her youth, but how she turned her condition into a job—appearing in circuses and museums and at fairs—and a means to achieve independence and to help her family. She grew up in Missouri in a log cabin her father built, and the title comes from her mother's admonition as she tried to keep Ella clothed properly. M. Sarah Klise's acrylic-on–Bristol board paintings are friendly and colorful, rendering the late-19th-century images with softly exaggerated gestures. The author's note is informative, but it does not include references—a lamentable omission, as it makes further investigation of this fascinating subject difficult. Children will likely be captivated by both the story and Ella Kate's quiet and direct voice.
-Kirkus
. . . Which brings us to the other end of the bell curve, with “Stand Straight, Ella Kate,” a biographical picture book about Ella Kate Ewing (8-foot-4), written by Kate Klise. To picture the heroine’s time (1872-1913), the author’s sister, M. Sarah Klise, provides illustrations that could have been inspired by Garth Williams, if you can imagine an eight-foot character plopped down in the middle of his illustrations for he “Little House” books. In any event, the stage is set when Ella is 13and a boy calls her a “freak,” and Ella’s mother insists that she never slouch — hence the title. So, at the age of 18, holding her head high, Ella, no slouch, applied for carny work and became an exhibit, getting to tour the world as the Tallest Lady on Earth and earning as much in a month as her pa earned in a year of farming. Little-guy humor may be Schwartz’s path, but Klise suggests that being deferential had no place in Ella’s life; instead, she embraced herself as a spectacle with a towering pride. With her sizable earnings, she paid off her parents’ mortgage and bought a house for herself, which she outfitted with custom-made furniture. As a measure of Ella’s confidence, Klise has her character boast, “I had the longest bed in town.” Even so, let me add that one of the most satisfying features of “Stand Straight, Ella Kate” can be seen in the endpapers, where a drawing of Ella’s glove appears actual size (“glove size 24”). As a way of measuring and understanding, you can put your own hand down on top of that outline. It’s a humbling experience.
-The New York Times
SHALL I KNIT YOU A HAT?
“The Klise sisters team up to show that the giving is just as important as the gift.”
-The New York Times
“The acrylic artwork glows with humor and radiates warmth. The author and artist, sisters who have collaborated on several illustrated novels, make a promising picture-book debut here.”
-Booklist
“A sweet tale of gift giving and friendship. . . . This is a good selection for holiday sharing”
-School Library Journal
“The Klises consistently sound notes of tenderness and humor. Images of Little Rabbit’s headgear sketches and Mother Rabbit’s method of clandestinely taking measurements are a hoot.”
-Publishers Weekly
“Shall I Knit You a Hat? is a warm and colorful story for children, families, and adults during the holiday season. The story is enchanting and the illustrations are colorful whimsy that is very engaging. With a complete Rabbit hat pattern for infant through age three years included, needle artists will particularly love it.”
-Armchair Interviews
“Heart-warming.”
-Richmond Times-Dispatch
WHY DO YOU CRY?
The rabbit duo from Shall I Knit You a Hat? returns for a gentle tale that explains how no one ever really outgrows tears. There’s no crying at age five –at least that’s what Little Rabbit, on the verge of his fifth birthday, believes. “I’m done with crying . . . Crying is for babies, and I’m not a baby anymore,” he tells his mother. What’s more, anyone else who cries is disinvited to his birthday party. The cat confesses to tears, for example, “when I’m alone and it’s dark and the shadows on the wall look like big, mean monsters.” The bunny soon discovers this exclusionary policy will rule out not only all of his friends, but his mother, too. Kate Klise skillfully handles the matter of grownups who cry. Mother Rabbits explains that a sad movie or a toothache can move her to tears, as can the “proud and happy” feeling she gets when she sees how far her little one has come. A celebration ensues (and readers will spot Mother Rabbit dabbing her eyes as she takes in this milestone event). M. Sarah Klise sidesteps preciousness by virtue of her crisp shapes and radiant, saturated colors. Her depiction of crying animals strikes just the right tone: pale blue droplets simply tumble out of their eyes, as if the tears were a force of nature and not a sign of weakness. Those on the cusp of kindergarten should find the Klise sisters’ message a source of comfort. (Ages 3 – 7)
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
This reassuring tale features the characters from Shall I Knit You a Hat?(Holt, 2004). Almost five, Little Rabbit decides that he is all done with crying. He wants to have a grown-up birthday party, with guests who have also outgrown crying. As he extends his invitations, he is surprised to learn that his friends still shed tears, and for a variety of reasons. The squirrel admits to crying when feeling left out of a game and the cat cries when frightened. The horse's silly explanation helps keep the tone light: I cry…when I try a new hairstyle and don't like the way I look. Little Rabbit returns home disappointed, only to discover that Mother Rabbit still cries too, sometimes even when she is happy. The warm acrylic illustrations have a retro quality and are full of humor and detail: Little Rabbit finds the cat at the fish market (naturally); the horse's new coiffure is a bit ridiculous; and the animals play pin the tail on the rabbit at the party. A great choice for reading aloud or one-on-one sharing, this tale will prompt comments from children, who will relate to the characters and enjoy the rich artwork.
–School Library Journal
This collaboration between sisters addresses a common developmental issue while telling an entertaining story. Little Rabbit decides that "Crying is for babies." With that in mind, he declares that only friends who don't cry can come to his birthday party. But his three best friends still cry, and they explain why. When it turns out that even his mother cries--sometimes because she is happy--Little Rabbit changes his mind about crying and about inviting his party guests. Delicious acrylic paintings, in a subdued but springlike palette, depict a cozy home, full of enjoyable visual details, and Little Rabbit's journey to see his friends offers a host of animals for children to name as well as some touches of sweet humor. The rhythm and repetition in the language and the tale will encourage children to predict the story's outcome.
-Booklist
IMAGINE HARRY
Most people have heard of Harvey the rabbit, Elwood P. Dowd's invisible pal. Here, the protagonist, Little Rabbit, has an invisible friend named Harry. They have all the usual fun, and Mother makes sure she gives Harry the requisite number of cookies and doesn't accidentally sit on him. When Little Rabbit starts school, Harry, comes too. One day, during a particularly fun music class, Harry tells Little Rabbit that he's going to take a nap. When Mother later asks Little Rabbit where Harry is, Little Rabbit admits with surprise that his friend has moved away. In words and art, this strikes just the right chord. The gentle yet witty text captures the importance of imaginary friends in a young child's life, even as it reinforces the idea that they disappear when no longer needed. The message plays out in beautifully crafted acrylic paintings that create a child's whole world—days both snowy and sunny, all kinds of friends, a household with scattered toys, and a warm mother-son relationship. The ending is nostalgic but true to a child's understanding.
–Booklist (starred review)
LITTLE RABBIT AND THE NIGHT MARE
"This engaging tale about a child's imagination and his strategies to confront his fears is told with gentle humor."
-School Library Journal
"Richly colored acrylic illustrations, with abundant details in both the classroom and bedroom scenes, feature a cheerful, comical assortment of animal classmates and a gentle, attentive mother, which lighten the seriousness of the story."
-Booklist
"The textured acrylics have fun with color, giving more than enough details to make readers want to linger on each page and explore a little longer."
-Horn Book
"Deeply opaque acrylics take Little Rabbit back and forth between his bedroom and a classroom populated with a menagerie of friends. A worthy introduction to puns."
-Kirkus Reviews
LITTLE RABBIT AND THE MEANEST MOTHER ON EARTH
Little Rabbit wants to attend the circus, and his mother says that he can, but first he has to clean his totally trashed playroom. After a failed attempt, he sneaks away to join the circus. If he can sell 100 tickets to his new act featuring the Meanest Mother on Earth, the ringmaster will be happy to have him join. Little Rabbit easily sells the tickets after spinning a web of exaggeration extolling the traits of his "Mysterious Marvel of a Maternal Monstrosity." He touts her as having two heads with green teeth and enjoying punishing the small and innocent. When he lures his mother to the Big Top, the crowd turns on him due to his false advertising. The woman guarantees to show them something really terrifying—Little Rabbit's playroom. The crowd is awed by the "Emporium of Odiferous Oddities," and Mother instructs them to take a souvenir or two on the way out. Soon the room is tidy and Little Rabbit declares that next time he will simply do it himself. Using single and double pages, the artist populates this story with an array of animals, plenty of detail, and the perfect mix of colors. Children should relate to this circus tale, and parents will enjoy how the mother saves the day.
-School Library Journal
Little Rabbit from Imagine Harry (2007) continues his adventures when the circus comes to town. When Mother says he must clean his room before he can go, Little Rabbit tells the ringmaster he has the Meanest Mother on Earth and can put her on display. That night at the big reveal, the crowd is displeased. Mother Rabbit doesn't even have two heads “to think up mean ways to punish the small and the innocent.” The Klises once again offer delightful storytelling and art, with winsome, decidedly toylike animal characters. Young fans will enjoy Little Rabbit's antics, even if his room does end up getting cleaned. -Booklist
GRAMMY LAMBY AND THE SECRET HANDSHAKE
How embarrassing! Grammy Lamby is coming to visit, but one little lamb is anything but pleased. Larry is continually rattled by his grandma, what with her secret handshake (which means “I love you”), her flouncy church clothes and loud voice and her extravagant plans for future travel (what if he doesn’t want to go?). Warm and appealing acrylic paintings with just the right amount of detail show Larry’s quiet distress and Grammy’s abundant character as she visits the Lamby home. Grammy is patient and kind despite her eccentricities, and when a summer storm frightens Larry and damages the house, fearless Grammy steps in and helps with comfort and repair. Maybe Grammy isn’t so embarrassing after all! How can Larry show her what he feels? Between a new secret handshake and a surprise that Grammy can open on the train, he is certain to find a way. While providing a nice acknowledgement of Larry’s feelings, this decidedly un-pedantic selection is replete with affection and gentle humor, from the simple text to the beguiling illustrations, and shows how feelings and perspectives can develop and change. Sister team Kate and M. Sarah Klise collaborated here and share some of their own grandma memories on the sleeve in this paean to embarrassing but wonderful grandmothers everywhere. A special treat for grandchildren and grandmas. (Picture book. 3-7)
-Kirkus
The Klise sisters (Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother on Earth) have once again hit the nail on the head: some relatives—okay, old relatives—fill kids with dread. Take Larry Lamb’s Grammy Lamby: she’s loud, boring, and clueless, sewing pink polka-dot pajamas for Larry, bellowing about “fabulous” adventures that just the two of them can take, and embarrassing him with her triple squeeze secret handshake. “He even said in his head, ‘Please (squeeze). Go (squeeze). Away (squeeze).’ ” Worst of all, Larry feels completely alone in his misery (his dislike of Grammy Lamby is his “big secret”). M. Sarah Klise’s assertively girly rendering style makes a terrific visual foil for the beleaguered hero’s humiliation and horror. When a big storm hits, Larry discovers that Grammy Lamby is actually a can-do dynamo, capable of rebuilding Larry’s damaged home and spearheading cleanup efforts for the entire valley. Most embarrassing relatives don’t get the opportunity to reveal another side of themselves as Grammy Lamby does, but this empathetic story may persuade readers that there’s a real human being behind that unfortunate gift or too-tight hug. Ages 4–8.
-Publishers Weekly
In the curious psychological landscape of small children, what in a parent is often embarrassing or odd can be embraceable and interesting in a grandparent. For some reason, grandparents get a pass. (Could it be all the chocolate sundaes on offer?) In three new picture books, grand-parents’ eccentricities, while occasionally sources of discomfort, are also—and ultimately—cause for delight. In “Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake,” written by Kate Klise and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise — a sister-sister team — it takes a while for Larry the lamb to appreciate his grandmother’s particularities. Though he is loath to admit it, “he didn’t always like when Grammy Lamby came to visit.” She loudly celebrates Larry’s cuteness in (pink polka-dotted!) pajamas she has sewn for him. She sings loudly at church. She loudly entertains plans of whisking Larry off to Tanzania or the South Seas. Grammy Lamby is simply too much; Larry is not sorry to see her leave. But Grammy Lamby comes back, greeting Larry with what she calls her “secret handshake”—three squeezes that signify “I love you.” And there she is again, drinking tea in the parlor and banging away at her sewing machine, a homespun thematic thread reflected in M. Sarah Klise’s acrylic illustrations, which feature patchwork prints, aprons and other Etsy-friendly details. Of course, as Larry finds out, Grammy Lamby isn’t just flounce and emotional flamboyance. When a summer storm hits, Grammy Lamby proves she’s also caring and capable.
Even her sewing machine comes in handy, patching Larry’s home and community back together again. And thus forms an authentic bond between grandma and grandson in this sweet but not treacly story. -New York Times
It is said that there is no love as perfect as that of a grandparent for a grandchild. That may be so, but unfortunately the intensity of feeling isn't always reciprocated. As devoted and indulgent as grandparents may feel they are, to the adored object they can also sometimes seem cranky or cloying or embarrassingly retrograde . . . The predicament of little Larry Lamb in Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake will be familiar to any child who has ever quailed at the beaming approach of a loving, looming grandparent. The sisterly duo of Kate Klise (perceptive text) and M. Sarah Klise (charming acrylic paintings) here gives us a painfully honest account of Larry's agony when his enthusiastic grandmother comes to visit. Grammy Lamby wears mortifyingly attention-getting clothes, has the loudest voice in church and loves to fantasize about exciting future adventures with her grandson on which he desperately does not want to go. Then there is her awful secret handshake, a squeeze-squeeze-squeeze that means "I love you." Larry is counting the days until his grandmother is supposed to leave when a destructive summer storm sweeps through. It is only in the wreckage of the storm's aftermath that, almost despite himself, Larry begins to see what a force for good his grandmother really is. By the time Grammy Lamby must leave, he is finally ready to return her special handshake—with an extra, reconciled squeeze.
-Wall Street Journal
There are plenty of books about the fun a grandparent and grandchild can share. This sprightly offering uses a different track . . . Kids will respond to the idea that no matter what they're supposed to think, they simply might not care for a particular relative. While the evolution here is dramatic, the idea that relationships can change is well reinforced. The adorable acrylic artwork is sturdy in shape yet precious in detail, and Klise gets maximum emotion from the body language of her characters as their feelings change. There will be an audience for this.
-Booklist
So, what's not to love about grandmothers? If you're Larry Lamb, plenty. When his grandma comes to stay, she likes to sip tea, wear a big hat, sing loudly in church, and insist on sharing a secret handshake that involves squeezing his hand three times to signal: I. Love. You. Larry's reaction? "Embarrassing." The Klise sisters give young readers an antidote to those sentimental books that gush over immediate and unconditional love between grandparents (even those who live far away) and children. That loves takes time and shared experiences. When a community catastrophe extends Grammy Lamby's visit, she and Larry slowly develop a bond. A gentle telling creates the story arc as animal characters (dressed as humans) allow readers to identify with the main players while also softening the initial problem. Sheep walking on spindly legs and giraffes singing in church set a lighthearted toned. Still, the idea that Grammy is at first overbearing toward Larry (who is seen in one illustration with calendar in hand counting the days until she leaves) is never in doubt. And, in a final spread, neither is his affection for her.
-The Horn Book
HOMESICK
Klise looks at the effects of hoarding and the struggles and joys of smalltown life in this honest, good-natured coming-of-age story set in the early 1980s. Twelve-year-old Benny’s mother leaves his father, whose hoarding has gotten out of control, heading for New Orleans with a promise to come back for Benny. With Benny’s father increasingly unable to care for himself or his son (he won’t let Benny throw away pizza boxes, convinced they will be valuable in the future), the boy spends his time with his loving and quirky neighbors, in particular his father’s best friend, Myron. Benny begins work at Myron’s fledgling radio station, transcribing amusing interviews with locals, including schoolteacher Miss Turnipson, who has entered their Missouri town in a contest to find “the most charming small town in America.” As Benny’s father deteriorates, the neighbors band together. While some things remain open-ended, matters still resolve in a surprising, slightly too-good-to-be-true, yet satisfying way. Klise conjures ample empathy for the residents of Dennis Acres—even Benny’s father who, despite his problems, has a gift for foresight (sometimes). Ages 10–14.
-Publishers Weekly