Beatrice More Moves In

September 15, 2015
Beatrice, whose family has just moved, is rather obsessed with cleanliness and organization. Even though the movers have only just left, she has her room fully organized, with even the clothes in her closet grouped by color and books arranged neatly-very neatly-by size. In contrast, her younger sister's room is trashed. Her mother is on the couch with a book, and her father is lazing with an old yearbook. Only Beatrice is so driven. While walking the dog, she meets some fellow third-graders and invites them to come over that afternoon, giving her just three hours to force her family to unpack and clean house. Readers may enjoy watching her assume the adult role to her parents' childishness. Still, her focus is somewhat scary, since the stress of the mess makes her eye twitch, and then she starts to growl, which is one of the items on her list of "Things To Do When I Feel Like Exploding." If not for the clearly comedic hyperbole of this early chapter book, readers will be forgiven for thinking that Beatrice needs some therapy. Frequent, equally exaggerated illustrations add to the fun. The happy news is that the visit goes well, and she forgives her family's extreme disorganization, since snuggling with them is very satisfying. Lucky thing for them. A silly but nonetheless amusing tale. (Fiction. 6-8)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-Beatrice More is an eight-year-old with serious neatness issues. The book opens with a moving van pulling away from the family's new home. In record time, Beatrice has not only set up her room perfectly but expects the rest of the family to have completely unpacked as well. The plot of this story is simple: Beatrice is a neat freak, while the rest of her family members, including their slobbering dog, are not very organized, and Beatrice is determined to have them follow her example. In the course of her campaign, the protagonist makes lists of things she can't change in her little sister and a list of "things to do to be successful in third grade." Her parents just roll their eyes while her little sister simply enjoys being a typically sloppy four-year-old. Beatrice takes the dog out for a walk and meets two girls her age, whom she invites over to her house. Beatrice tells the girls that her house will be perfect by 3:00 p.m. and then goes home and forces everyone to quickly unpack in order to be done by the designated time. The organizing of the house, with Beatrice cracking the whip, takes up about a third of this short book. In the end, Beatrice lets go of her compulsion, realizes that her family's messiness and disorganization are perfectly fine, and plays with her new friends. This easy chapter book features a highly predictable plot and simple characterizations, making it most appropriate for brand-new readers or those struggling with more complex texts. VERDICT A supplemental purchase for library collections in need of chapter books for struggling or reluctant readers, or to fill a gap between beginning readers and longer chapter books.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.