May 15, 2017
A guinea pig named Philomena requires prescription eyeglasses, setting off a competition with her sisters in the acquisition of fashionable accessories.Philomena, the eldest of a trio of guinea pig sisters, finds she can see clearly with her new purple glasses. Younger sisters Audrey and Nora Jane want to keep up in matters of style, so they acquire sunglasses of their own. When Philomena buys a silver handbag to store her glasses, her sisters follow suit, and then all three acquire dresses, which prove to be uncomfortable. The three sisters jointly decide they don't all need to wear the same items, with Philomena retaining her glasses and Audrey keeping her handbag to store lettuce for snacks. In a pitch-perfect conclusion, all rivalry is resolved--"until Nora Jane got a necklace." This clever story of sibling rivalry is succinctly related in just a few sentences that effectively capture the competitive nature of the sisterly bond, even among guinea pigs. Delightful photographic illustrations show real guinea pigs with all their tiny accessories, from pink sunglasses and tutus to a sparkling rhinestone necklace. The guinea pigs and text are set against clean, white backgrounds that make the accessories pop and the three guinea pigs stand out as distinct characters. An innovative and amusing story that will appeal to owners of guinea pigs, children with newly acquired glasses, and anyone with a sister. (Picture book. 3-7)
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July 1, 2018
When guinea pig Philomena gets a pair of glasses, her sisters Audrey and Nora Jean also get pairs (despite not needing them). The same goes for handbags and frilly dresses until the siblings eventually come to the conclusion that "not everyone needs the same things." Readers will genuinely chuckle at the droll text and the accompanying up-close photographs of bespectacled guinea pigs wearing tutus.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)