Frankie the Blankie

by Jennifer Sattler

Overview

When a fellow jungle mate suggests "blankies" are for babies, Doris the Gorilla tries to give her beloved blanket, Frankie, up, and then tries disguising it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681190341
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/10/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Sattler is the creator of the picture books A Chick 'n' Pug Christmas, Chick 'n' Pug, Chick 'n' Pug Meet the Dude, Pig Kahuna, Pig Kahuna Pirates!, and Sylvie. She is married and has two children and two dogs, both of which are part basset hound and thus aspire to be much bigger dogs than they really are. She lives in New York.
www.jennifersattler.com

Editorial Reviews

"Sattler’s doe-eyed Doris is just as oddly lovable as her other beloved characters of previous books: Chick and Pug and Pig Kahuna . . . Children will be enchanted by this sweet story . . . A memorable, warmhearted story that will particularly resonate with children still attached to the security of their early childhood favorites." - School Library Journal

"Sattler's vibrantly colored acrylic-and-digital art is the strength of this picture book." - Kirkus

"Sattler’s digitally enhanced acrylic illustrations are the high point. . . . A good choice for story hours or one-on-one sharing." - Booklist

"Preschool fans of dogs, chickens, superheroes, and humor will all find something to like here, as will librarians looking for something to freshen up storytimes. Delightful." —School Library Journal on CHICK 'N' PUG

"This story about friendship will resonate with children who find their heroes in unlikely places." —Publishers Weekly on CHICK 'N' PUG

"The full-color acrylic and colored pencil illustrations have a sketchy, active feel that bounces merrily along and keeps the focus squarely on the expressive porcine pair." —starred review, School Library Journal on PIG KAHUNA

"An utterly engaging picture-book experience-eye-catching, thought-provoking and just plain fun." —starred review, Kirkus Reviews on PIG KAHUNA

From the Publisher

04/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Doris the ape never goes anywhere without her cuddly purple blankie, Frankie. He is faithfully by her side and in her clutches at nap time and snack time and even makes a very graceful dance partner. When Rhino comments that only babies play with blankies, Doris is so embarrassed that she puts Frankie aside for one terrible day, until she misses him too much to stay away. The only viable solution is to disguise Frankie as a hat, a bandage, and even a hankie—all solutions that prove only temporarily effective. Ultimately, the most creative and successful way to solve the problem is to put on a puppet show—with Frankie as the irresistible star of the jungle. Sattler's doe-eyed Doris is just as oddly lovable as her other beloved characters of previous books: Chick and Pug and Pig Kahuna. The lush, colorful illustrations are eye-catching and full of intricate detail. Children will be enchanted by this sweet story bearing a memorable message that one need never outgrow small childhood comforts. VERDICT A memorable, warmhearted story that will particularly resonate with children still attached to the security of their early childhood favorites.—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

School Library Journal

2016-02-17
Doris the gorilla tries to make others respect her attachment to her blankie. Although the title names Frankie the blankie, this is really Doris' story. She loves her bright purple blankie, and all's well until a rhinoceros passing by says "Only babies play with blankies, you know." Embarrassed, Doris tries to do without Frankie; and then, bereft, she attempts to pass him off as other things—a hat, a bandage, a hankie. Mishaps ensue with other jungle animals, and some are hard to parse: when Doris pretends Frankie is a bandage on her foot, it's unclear why a bird mistakes him for another bird and tries to kiss him, for example. Sattler's vibrantly colored acrylic-and-digital art is the strength of this picture book, which ends up sending mixed messages about security objects as the plot progresses. When Doris hides Frankie and only takes him out in secret, a friendly lemur spies her and asks if Frankie is a puppet. Doris is inspired. "Yes it is!" she replies and then entertains the animals with a puppet show. The bullying rhino is included in this happily-ever-after ending, which isn't quite satisfying. Was the rhino right after all? Is this a book to help ease children away from transitional objects? Or is it one that validates their attachments? Why couldn't Doris have just kept Frankie as her beloved blankie? (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews