By Marie-Louise Gay & Marie-Louise Gay & Jacob Homel
Forced to abandon exciting plans with her friends and take baby Penny to the park, Pistachio is sure her first day of summer holidays will be boring. But keeping Penny out of trouble proves to be more exciting than Pistachio expected
It’s the first day of the summer holidays and Pistachio Shoelace has big plans. Plans that involve a compass, a cave, and a buried treasure. Plans that do not involve a troublemaking little sister wearing bunny ears and a Superman cape.
Forced to take baby Penny to the park, Pistachio prepares for a dull day. But between fruit thefts, a witch’s garden, and an angry park warden with a rulebook, a day with Penny is anything but boring.
Marie-Louise Gay’s engaging Princess Pistachio returns in her second book for early readers. Winningly translated from French by Gay’s son Jacob Homel and illustrated throughout with Gay’s distinctive, brightly-coloured art, Princess Pistachio and the Pest will charm young princesses and Super-Bunnies everywhere.
Praise for Princess Pistachio and the Pest
2015 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection
★ STARRED REVIEW “In four breathless, fast-paced chapters, Gay once again weaves a frantically funny tale with deliciously named characters, while subtly recognizing some underlying concerns regarding sibling responsibility and difficulties with adult-child communication. Descriptive and age-appropriate language flows naturally and is in perfect tandem with the brightly hued illustrations that depict redheaded, freckle-faced Pistachio’s every changing emotion. Young readers will cheer for her. Long live Princess Pistachio.”—Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
“This entertaining transitional reader is perfectly suited for children ready to try chapter books. Translated from French, the text is rollicking and descriptive, offering strong vocabulary words such as careens, ecstatic, and flabbergasted….Fans of other high-spirited girl characters like Junie B. Jones and Clementine will fall in love with Princess Pistachio.”—School Library Journal
“This book is full of adorable illustrations that, along with the text, clearly capture both the frustrations and fondness older siblings have for their younger charges. Sure to be a big hit with young readers just graduating from picture books to their first chapter books.”—Resource Links
“Young readers making the transition to chapter books will once again be thrilled to read about the adventures of intrepid Pistachio and her lovable little sister Penny…Gay’s narration is full of dynamic descriptions…The illustrations provide a great deal of interesting information for readers as well…Highly Recommended.”—CM Magazine
“Marie Louise Gay’s impish pen and ink drawings have plenty of humourous details…Chock full of vivid, out-of-the-ordinary descriptions, like “Pistachio’s heart falls to her belly button,” this playful chapter book will capture the interest of beginning readers.”—National Reading Campaign
