School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-This picture book addresses the separation anxiety that most children experience in their early years. A young guinea pig expresses his feelings in a primal way: "I miss you when you have to go to work. I want you, but you're not there." Further along, he uses rationalizations that sound adult and out of character: "Everyone has things they need to do. Soon we'll see each other again." Parkinson's colorful, appealing paintings skillfully reflect the little animal's emotions as they change from sadness to anger to acceptance. Complete with a note to adults, the book serves its purpose of providing bibliotherapy, but with a rather didactic tone. Kathi Appelt's Oh My Baby, Little One (Harcourt, 2000) and Audrey Penn's The Kissing Hand (Child & Family, 1993) are much sweeter and better-written variations on the same theme.-Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The latest entry in the Way I Feel Books series, When I Miss You by Cornelia Maude Spelman, illus. by Kathy Parkinson, aims to help reassure children with separation anxiety. "When you go out, I miss you. I want to show you something, but I can't. I wish you were with me!" Parkinson's illustrations star a pudgy, apprehensive rodent who eventually learns, "When I miss you, I know you'll be back!" (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
