School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-Martha can skateboard, sing, and make impressive karate moves. She can share, make presents, and read stories. But she "doesn't say sorry." Not ever. On a particularly trying day when she plays tricks on her parents and her baby brother, the young otter refuses to apologize, even when she's given plenty of time out to think things over. But her family can be stubborn, too. Mom doesn't give cookies to a little girl who won't say she's sorry. Dad won't give her a piggyback ride. Even her baby brother withholds a hug. Initially Martha's reaction is, "Fine! Who needs them, anyway?" But, of course, she relents, and the process by which an actual apology issues forth from her lips will make readers smile. Whatley's watercolor and colored pencil depictions of this otter family greatly enhance the humor of the text. Parents and teachers can pair this funny story with Kathryn Madeline Allen's This Little Piggy's Book of Manners (Holt, 2003) to spark a lighthearted discussion of polite behavior.-Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Martha, a young otter, is a girl of many accomplishments and social graces ("She does give hugs. She does share her snack. She does make presents. She does read stories"). But apologizing is definitely not her thing, and after a spectacular day of misbehaving, her family draws the line. No apology? Then no cookies, piggyback rides or hugs. Can Martha rise to the occasion? Comparisons to Olivia may be inevitable, and while Martha isn't playing in that league, she has plenty of charm. Whatley's minimalist composition approach, used to great effect in Diary of a Wombat, returns, though his single-plane perspective grows monotonous. But he never overplays his hand, and his astute portraits (the family members are especially good at upturned noses of disapproval) should elicit giggles. Berger (Junior Goes to School) is a sly, sharp writer who clearly understands just how much is at stake for her heroine, which should make the message go down easy with readers. Ages 3-6. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
