cover image Say Hello, Sophie!

Say Hello, Sophie!

Rosemary Wells. Viking, $17.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-101-99925-7

It’s a situation virtually any parent can identify with: Sophie the mouse won’t say “hello” or “thank you” in social situations where the words are called for. As in Sophie’s previous outings (Use Your Words, Sophie!, among others), Wells shows an uncanny understanding of what Sophie is thinking and feeling (“It was just too embarrassing for Sophie to say those grown-up words”). And once again it’s Granny who swoops in with a sly approach: a conveniently timed “toothache” forces Sophie to take the lead at Zeke’s Palace of Ice Cream. It’s another spot-on portrait of family life, with some very real solutions for frustrated parents and bashful kids. Up to age 3. [em]Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Mar.) [/em]