School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-The three mouse friends are back in a story about Dolores's new and unfortunate allergy. When she eats cheese, she sneezes and breaks out in itchy spots. "Dolores could not imagine life without cheese. It was her favorite thing to eat!" Can she quit it cold turkey? Even with the town's "Everything Cheese Festival" coming up? Soon Dolores learns that she can go on after a setback, and also that, when it comes to making lunches, a little creativity goes a long way. Fans of the other books about these appealing rodents will find the same rhythmic ease in the writing, and the same light touch with a message. Walrod's colorful cartoon-style artwork adds lots of humor and personality. Allergy sufferers will find this reassuring in a nondidactic way, and all kids will smile, even without saying cheese.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Food allergies get an understanding appraisal in Howe and Walrod's third picture book starring Horace, Morris and Dolores. The three school-age mice naturally adore cheese: "They ate string cheese and Swiss cheese on Sundays. They ate Muenster with mustard on Mondays." These rituals end when Dolores breaks out in itchy blue spots and starts sneezing. Dr. Ricotta performs a series of tests-accurately pictured in a comic-strip array of shots, urinalysis and eye/ear checks-and pronounces Dolores allergic to cheese. Dolores and her mother look aghast. The Everything Cheese Festival is nigh, and Dolores can't get cheese off her mind. With Dolores's exclusion from cheesy activities, Howe and Walrod indicate how food taboos influence not just children's diets but their social lives: alone, Dolores binges on cheesecake, only to regret it when she sees her blotchy face in a bathroom mirror. Wordless images and word-balloon dialogues show Dolores's struggle and her realization that she can concoct tasty cheese-free recipes to share (or sell) at the cheese fest. In addressing this timely topic, Howe and Walrod encourage the no-gluten and nut-free crowd to seek opportunity in a common setback. Ages 4-8. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved