One Potato Review

Who’s more annoying: the noisy, nosy, hyper-energetic little sister, or her sulking, scowling older brother? This is well-travelled territory in children’s books (and pretty easy pickings for the people selling them), yet there’s nothing lackadaisical in this telling, indeed it’s more than a little refreshing when neither one of these characters ends up compromising very much, or otherwise learning a Very Special Lesson. The sister turns into a dog - or maybe she doesn’t – but these characters finally keep their resolutions to themselves. The sunny, busy spirit of this story comes courtesy of Marie-Louise Gay, a French Canadian artist, and sometimes writer – of Stella fame, but also a couple of pretty good chapter books (Travels With My Family and On the Road Again, when you’re ready) featuring bickering, believable siblings. No pandering here, only well-earned optimism.