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Summary
Summary
Use Your Words, Sophie! is the third book about the irrepressible two-year-old who is wonderful, terrible, and always lovable.
Sophie knows lots of words, but she doesn't always use them. It's more fun to speak in Hyena talk or Space language. 'Use your words, Sophie!' urge her parents, but Sophie just won't.
But when her new baby sister arrives, Sophie's words are the only ones that can make the baby stop crying.
Use Your Words, Sophie! is the third book about the irrepressible two-year-old who is wonderful, terrible, and always lovable.
Praise for Use Your Words, Sophie -
Time-Out For Sophie
'Readers will clamor for more of the irrepressible Sophie, while parents will secretly smile-sheer delight.' Kirkus , starred review
Sophie's Terrible Twos
'Wells continues to demonstrate an almost telepathic gift for distilling everyday frustrations and triumphs to their essence.' Publishers Weekly
Reviews (6)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Two-year-old Sophie uses her own language upon the arrival of "a brand new pink nosed baby." As Mama and Daddy try to settle in with a toddler and a newborn, Sophie rebels in her own way, creating made-up words. Granny is called in to rescue the frazzled parents, and it is Granny, speaking her granddaughter's pretend language, who helps Sophie become the hero, calming her crying sister with Sophie's words. As the story progresses, her parents disagree about the baby's name. "Amber," says her father. "'We decided on Ashleigh,' said Mama." But it's Sophie who knows what the baby wants to be called, and she is named Jane. Wells's colorful artwork features an assortment of patterns and detail, giving the home a cozy, lived-in look, and the facial expressions capture the frustrations of both parents and Sophie, who can be seen grimacing and rolling her eyes. Another winner from Wells.-Gwen Collier, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Sophie the mouse gains a baby sister in her third outing, and her response to this intrusion involves showing off her inner polyglot, whether it's her command of "Jellyfish language" ("Jubbabubba," she babbles, rolling on the floor) or her decision to sing "the Baboon national anthem in her bed as loud as she could possibly sing" when both girls are put down for naps. Wells remains a master of conveying intense emotions through subtly funny writing, smartly observed situations (in the background, Sophie's parents debate baby names), and emotionally telegraphic art-Sophie's narrowed eyes broadcast so much disdain it's downright chilling. Up to age 3. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Mouse-child Sophie uses lots of words. She welcomes her new baby sister home from the hospital in Jellyfish language ("Jubbabubba"); she growls that she's "too big for naps" in Hyena language ("Grabvjkloz!"). But her distracted parents -- who can't even agree on the baby's name -- don't listen, telling her over and over to "use your words, please, Sophie!" Then Sophie sings the "Baboon national anthemas loud as she could," and little Ashleigh (or is it Amber?) wakes up screaming and won't stop. Once again, Granny comes to the rescue (Time-Out for Sophie, rev. 1/13; Sophie's Terrible Twos, rev. 1/14) -- answering Sophie's Space language greeting in Martian before helping restore the peace. Wells's cozy ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations expand on the measured text; her sturdy mouse characters are notably expressive. Sophie and Granny's special relationship comes across warmly in both text and pictures. With Granny on her side, Sophie doesn't need the disruptive behavior and -- speaking English -- offers to hold the howling baby. Sophie and her words finally get baby Samantha Marie (or, wait, Symphonie Pearl?) to stop crying and listen. Sophie listens, too, and tells the grownups: "She wants to be called Jane." This is a satisfying story with a believable hero whose everyday experiences will resonate with young children...and their parents, if they're paying attention. kitty flynn (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Sophie, the spirited mouse toddler, is backnavigating sisterhood with mischief and delight. When Sophie's baby sister arrives home sans name (her parents are still deciding, a running joke), the vivacious 2-year-old decides to only speak Jellyfish...or Hyena, or sing Baboon (at the top of her lungs). The latter of which wakes her delicate, pink bundle of a sister, who proceeds to wail inconsolably. Nothing can calm the infant, not food nor change of diapersnot even Granny! Finally, Sophie uses her words, quietly singing to her sister, who becomes calm, but how? Sophie proclaims it was easy, as she knew the baby's name, so she sang "Jane, Jane, don't be a pain!" Wells perfectly captures the honesty and hilarious insight of a precocious youngster; and her mixed-media illustrations, rich in color and pattern, emit an earnest warmth. Here, her captivating character illustrationswith their hysterical expressions, silly (yet so recognizable!) poses and tender connectednessshine. This is Wells at her comedic best, and readers will be left in stitches. Absolutely enchantinga must-have for the new-sibling shelf. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Irascible, lovable Sophie returns, this time to welcome a new baby sister. As her parents squabble over potential baby names, Sophie vies for attention, adopting all manner of foreign languages. She greets the baby in Jellyfish, protests her parents' instructions in Hyena, and sings in Baboon, only to be met with the refrain, Use your words, please, Sophie! In the end, they call in Granny, who plays along, giving Sophie the attention, and the agency, she requires. It's Sophie who is able to calm the baby, and find a name for her in the process. Wells peppers her story about language with rich vocabulary, underlining the theme and offering context for words like swaddle and bassinet. And her typically sweet, buoyant pastel watercolors, framed on a soft lavender backdrop, brim with interesting detail. This gentle, lightly piquant outing combines authentic humor and recognizable growing pains in a comfortable tale sure to delight young listeners, with or without siblings. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Well, it's Wells. The creator of such lovable characters as Max, Ruby, Ivy, Yoko, and Harry just keeps on trucking.--Barthelmess, Thom Copyright 2015 Booklist
New York Review of Books Review
When Sophie, a quintessential 2-year-old who happens to be a mouse, meets her baby sister, she's at a loss for words - really, she utters strange sounds from languages like "jellyfish." (Can you say "regression"?) Her mama and daddy, meanwhile, can't agree on a name: She says Ashleigh, he says Amber. In this third Sophie book (after "Sophie's Terrible Twos" and "Time-Out for Sophie") Wells's lively watercolors and wonderfully laconic take on toddlerhood and family life continue to enchant. WOLFIE THE BUNNY By Ame Dyckman. Illustrated by Zachariah OHora. 40 pp. Little, Brown. $17. (Picture book; ages 3 to 8) Not only does Dot, a tough little bunny in a red hoodie and hip sneakers, have to contend with the baby who appeared on the doorstep, her smitten parents won't acknowledge the problem: He's a wolf. But when a bear threatens Wolfie and Dot comes to his rescue, she sees her brother's gentle nature. It's a funny, heartwarming tale of difference, love and overcoming stereotypes, made indelible by OHora's adorable, offbeat illustrations, with short black brush strokes linking the divergent species. THE NEW SMALL PERSON Written and illustrated by Lauren Child. 32 pp. Candlewick. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) The creator of beloved characters like Charlie and Lola introduces a boy who's doted on by his parents and in sole possession of an awesome room. Then an intruder arrives; he's first boring, then annoying, until the worst happens : "The small person moved its bed into Elmore Green's room." But all changes when his brother climbs into his bed to comfort him after a bad dream. Child is as funny and astute as ever, and it's refreshing to see a black family depicted in her stylish mixed-media art. RODEO RED By Maripat Perkins. Illustrated by Molly Idle. 32 pp. Peachtree. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) This Western take on the new-sibling fiasco hits its mark, to amusing effect ("That scallywag talked nothing but gibberish"). Idle's colored-pencil illustrations burst with playful energy and clever visual storytelling. Cowboy-hatted "Rodeo Red" battles with the baby, "Sideswiping Slim," who has rustled her stuffed dog, Rusty. "The sheriff and her deputy" are no help at all, but salvation arrives in the form of a stuffed cat sent as a gift, which Red cleverly swaps for the kidnapped Rusty. THE BABY SWAP By Jan Ormerod. Illustrated by Andrew Joyner. 32 pp. Little Simon. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) This treat from Ormerod, who died in 2013, is lovingly illustrated by Joyner in madcap retro style. Caroline Crocodile simply can't take Mama Crocodile's constant praise of her dribbly, smelly baby brother (he is gorgeously "green as a grub," and so on). So Caroline decides to trade him in at the Baby Shop. She tries out panda and elephant babies and twin tigers, with terrible results. Then she's offered a "secondhand crocodile" who, after all, is "just right" - with a new tooth that explains the dribbling. ONLINE A slide show of this week's illustrated books at nytimes.com/books.