Customer Reviews

Beatrice Doesn't Want To

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This is a children's book about a little girl, a little sister who has a preconception about books and has to go to the library with her older brother.
Beatrice is a little girl who doesn't like books nor wants to go to the library with her brother Henry. But she has to go becuse he has to do a book report on dinosaurs, and she goes to the library for three day's in a row. Henry tries to suggest things for Beatrice to do but supprisingly she doesn't want to.
I like this book because I read it to my daughter and she enjoys it. It is a good book to read to her because it shows her how she can act sometimes when she "doesn't want to." The book helps her see that even though she may think that something is bad because she doesn't like it, doesn't mean that it's bad at all. This book is very good especially if you have a Beatrice, or in my case a Sally.

Beatrice was a girl in 1981; in 2004 she was reborn as a beagle. What a difference 23 years and a change in style and technique make! "Beatrice Doesn't Want to" is Writer Laura Numeroff's updated colloboration with Illustrator Lynn Munsinger to present a stubborn pup instead of a whiny girl. I like it!

The stubbornness is not fun for Brother Henry, but siblings need to learn how to get along with recalcitrant people. After all, they may have one for a boss, or worse, marry one. Learn cooperation early. Beatrice's brother Henry does. This update, however, is now just about even with the expiration date. Henry wears hip-hop clothes while Beatrice dresses collegiately. She's cute in her pleated skirt, striped sweater, and hairbow. This style will probably never fade.

The big problem is Henry's responsibility, which he handles. He's in charge of her care for the three days he must do research in the library for a report. Beatrice is not cooperative. In fact, she is the epitome of a pesky little brother or sister. Finally, on the third day, Henry discovers that a reading of a popular best selling chiildren's picture book will take place. Oh joy! But not to Beatrice. Finally, Henry puts his paws down and makes her go.

To her utter delight the character loves to skate board through the house just as she does. Ha ha or woof woof (whichever works). Beatrice loves this story. Loves it! After the reading is over, she asks the librarian if she can have the book. Of course. The look on Beatrice's fact--I want to know where the illustrator found that look. It is magnificent! It is blissful! Actually, all the facial expressions are just priceless!

Beatrice starts out not wanting to read or hear stories or go to the library. But there's magic in the place. Beatrice gets a dose and is cured of her contempt for reading. Hooray!

While the change of childish behavior to a more socialized way may be the obvious point, I must offer this: Change is often a correct and good component for making life better and more rewarding. Or something like that.

Beatrice is the little sister of Henry, who must write a report for school. Henry therefore needs to go to the library to research his topic. Because he is responsible for Beatrice, Beatrice must come along. Beatrice is the typical preschooler: petulant, easily bored, moody, and attention-seeking. Eventually, Henry finds something in the library that Beatrice enjoys. As others have noted, this story is not particularly creative or novel.

The entertainment value comes from two sources: the lively illustrations and Beatrice's dialogue. All the characters in the book are dogs of various breeds; the illustrator (Lynn Munsinger) has captured the playfulness and emotions of the dogs very well. In addition, Beatrice's dialogue lends itself to animated reading aloud. She repeats some lines (such as "I don't want to"), but really, all of her lines sound like classic preschooler comments that are easy to exaggerate for the entertainment of your listening audience (which, of course, is your preschooler).

The best audience for this book would be three- to seven-year-old girls. I read it to my six-year-old daughter, who enjoyed it. My four-year-old son got a little bored with it, perhaps because the lead character (Beatrice) is a girl. (Plus, he prefers dinosaurs and Batman to quiet books about the library.)

Popular author Laura Numeroff ("If You Give a Mouse a Cookie") and teams with the prolific Lynn Munsinger in this cute book about a dog who follows her brother to the library, but doesn't like to read. Henry drags his clearly unhappy sister, Beatrice to the library, where he needs to finish a paper. Beatrice refuses Henry's suggestion to read; instead, she just wants to watch him work, and she pours herself and her saccharine smile all over the increasingly frustrated Henry. Beatrice follows Henry for three straight days, until Henry has had enough. The reader may have had enough of Beatrice as well, for the humor of her unvarying, cloying smile is stale after awhile.

On the third day, Henry sees a library poster announcing a book reading that afternoon. Henry encourages his sister to attend, but Beatrice says, "I don't want to." Henry comes back with, "Too bad!" While waiting for the reading to begin, a dog introduces herself to Beatrice: "'Hello. My name is Wanda,' said the girl in the next chair. `This is the second time I've heard this story.'" "'Big deal!'" said Beatrice.

However (surprise, surprise), the book reading is a big hit. The librarian reads about Albert Mouse and his new roller skates, and Beatrice, who likes to roller skate, begins to show interest and even smile. Like Albert, she had once roller-skated in the house, and she listens and laughs and even looks over the book after the reading. When Henry comes to take her home, she replies, "I don't want to," hugging the book with her eyes closed dreamily and a big smile on her face.

The warm and welcoming story may encourage kids who have reservations about libraries or reading. Munsinger clearly depicts Beatrice's emotions, but she relies too heavily on Beatrice's somewhat comical expressions. The book's thin plot is fairly predictable. The pictures are too static and the colors are not very imaginative or exciting. Actually, Henry seems the more interesting of the two dogs, and the best scenes are those in which the brother interacts with his sister.

Yes, I can be harsh toward Beatrice. She does not want to read! Yes, yes, I know. What kind of child at that age turns down a good book--whether she reads to herself or someone reads to her? What's wrong with Beatrice? What early experience marred her beyond the simple pleasure of reading?

Whatever. She must go with her big brother to the library while he does research. He must babysit. She doesn't want to go, especially not to a library! Any surprise there? (Don't let my sarcasm concerning a reluctant child upset you. I know how the story ends.)

Her brother discovers story hour and MAKES Beatrice attend so he can finish his report. Over there is the librarian reading a story to children. Hmmm. Beatrice tries not to listen, but her ears can't help hearing. She slips into the listening group of eager children and finds herself become one of them. She even laughs out loud! Afterwards, Beatrice asks for the very book the librarian read. She becomes so "lost" in the story that her brother experiences a "gotcha" over the book.

He was right. Beatrice COULD learn to like books!

"Beatrice Doesn't Want to" was published in 1981 and is out of print. Laura Joffe Numeroff is the author. Yes, that Laura Numeroff!

Item arrived as described! I love this book. Great to use with reluctant new readers.

[...] While the outcome might be predictable to you, in the eyes of a child it's probably not.

We got this book out of the library, have had to renew it several times. My 4 year old daughter enjoys this book. She enjoys the expressions by both Beatrice and her brother Henry. This book has become part of the bedtime routine for over a month.

I will say that as a parent I found some of the illustrations to be off. On the page where Beatrice finds herself in the children's room, the character Wanda does not look really interact with Beatrice in the illustration.

The story is enchanting; however, the illustrations could be a bit more accurate in depicting what is happening in some instances.