Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week

February 15, 2023
Fourth grader Emily is intrigued when a girl her age moves into the empty attic above her third-floor apartment with only her dog, Otto, and no parent in sight. Her name is Rani, and she makes her mark right away. She saws, hammers, and drills, personalizing the space while telling Emily fantastic tales of adventures in far-flung locales. She's a character with similarities to Pippi Longstocking: well traveled, unconventional, and independent, although she's quietly longing for her mother, who's working in Patagonia. Her gregarious behavior makes every outing an escapade for reticent Emily. Rani dodges in and out of stores taking items and seems a little hazy about how paying for things works. Her interpretations of school rules are comically confused. She's generous and befriends people others overlook, widening Emily's circle. But not knowing the rules gets Rani into trouble with some adults, especially when it's discovered that Otto doesn't have a dog license. Otto's her constant companion; when he's taken to a shelter, Rani's bereft. Emily and her schoolmates must use everything they've learned from Rani to make things right. Readers will treasure the blossoming friendship between opposites in this whimsically illustrated tale. Short chapters and plenty of action make for an accessible and appealing reading experience. Emily is White; Rani reads Black; and names and illustrations point to diversity in the supporting cast. Touching and inspiring. (Fiction. 7-10)

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March 1, 2023
Grades 3-5 With wild, imaginative flair, fourth-grader Rani is a bit Pippi Longstocking, while her propensity to take language literally is a bit Amelia Bedelia. And like those fictional favorites, she'll definitely appeal to readers, though they may, like Rani's new friend Emily, think she's a bit too likely to pull them into trouble and the principal's office. Rani, after all, is a bit of a mystery; she shows up at Emily's apartment building with a chair, a dog named Otto, and no parents in sight, telling tall tales (Emily thinks) while Otto acts like a butler (could he be?). Now nothing is quite the same. However, school rules and the oh-so-disapproving Pinkney family, who live downstairs, are problems. Can Emily rein in Rani while also reveling in the fun, unlike rule-bound Penelope Pinkney? Is it possible they can all get along, even when Penelope's brother gets lost and Otto winds up in a dog shelter? The multicultural crew and Vogel's bouncy line drawings keep the story contemporary, lighthearted, and fun.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 6, 2023
Nine-year-old Emily Robbins and her family share an apartment building with its manager, Mr. Armand, who keeps chickens, and another family, whose chiding mother leaves rules-based reminders around the building. Emily’s life is turned upside-down when a talkative girl named Rani moves solo into the building’s unoccupied attic with her massive black dog, Otto. Rani, whose wildlife photographer mother is working in Patagonia, says she’s never been to school and cites time spent in Antarctica and Borneo. Rani exhibits a freewheeling, Pippi Longstocking–like perspective—creating a slide in her quarters, building an immediate rapport with local adults, and demonstrating an unusual understanding of social constructs and norms—but her hijinks eventually lead to trouble with various rule-intent adults, as when Otto is taken away because he lacks tags. Fast-paced episodes, nimbly captured in b&w comic-strip-style cartoons from Vogel (Too Much Slime!), keep things moving as Thomson (Wombat Underground) showcases Rani’s vivid imagination and, in affectionate prose, the way her welcoming attitude brings community to the fore. Emily’s family is white; Rani is described as having brown skin and black curls. Ages 8–12.