Dorothy and Mikey [Hardcover]

Keiko Kasza (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Dorothy and Mikey are best friends...well, most of the time. When they aren't arguing over who saves who in Knight and Princess. And when they aren't competing to see who is better at jumping, running, and balancing on one foot.

Dorothy and Mikey know each other inside and out--the good stuff and the bad. They will always love playing together--even when they're playing to win!

Keiko Kasza's animals have won the hearts of children for over ten years, and this book, with three separate stories, brings her talent to a new audience: kids beginning to read on their own.

"The emphasis on caring and sharing despite superficial differences will...find a wide audience."-- School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In three breezy stories, Kasza (Don't Laugh, Joe!) captures the intermittent bickering, one-upmanship and affection integral to friendship. The title characters are two young hippos who are "best friends... well, most of the time." After a spat about who will save the other from the villains in a game of make-believe, Dorothy storms off and the two make futile attempts to have fun alone, until they agree to take turns "saving each other from the bad guys." In the subsequent tales, Dorothy teaches a bragging, teasing Mikey a lesson; her feelings are hurt when Mikey tells her he wants to be alone, but then she discovers he needed solitude to compose a poem for her. Though assuring happy conclusions to these episodes, the author wraps up each with a quirky twist, as when Dorothy surreptitiously edits a line in Mikey's ode to her, changing "She's sometimes a pest," to "She's always the best." Kasza's spare, jovial pictures feature comical, changeable expressions on the faces of these devoted pals. The brevity of the text, limited vocabulary and snappy dialogue of the stories makes this a solid choice for readers graduating from picture books. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 4-Dorothy and Mikey are best friends, but there are times when they do not get along. In the first chapter, the two young hippos argue over who gets to save the other in a game of Knight and Princess; they learn that playing together is much more fun than playing alone and that princesses are capable of saving knights. Next, Mikey brags that he is the more physically fit, but Dorothy gets the better of him. Finally, she doesn't understand his need to be alone until he gives her the friendship poem he has been working on. The text is set against a clean white background and the gentle, attractive watercolor cartoons perfectly capture the moods and emotions. The speedy narrative is ideal for beginning readers, who will recognize the ups and downs of early friendships and appreciate the humorous touches in both text and illustrations.
Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (April 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399233563
• ISBN-13: 978-0399233562
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,161,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Keiko Kasza was born on a small Japanese island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. "All the steps I took growing up were very normal," Ms. Kasza says. "The only unusual thing I did was go to college in the United States." She graduated with a degree in graphic design from California State University at Northridge. Ms. Kasza married an American, and the United States has been her home ever since.After publishing five children's books in Japan and working as a graphic designer for fourteen years, Ms. Kasza decided in 1988 to devote her time to picture books. She says, "Having two small boys and two professions was too much to handle."Ms. Kasza admires many great picture-book creators, such as Leo Lionni and Maurice Sendak, but says that the work of Arnold Lobel has influenced her the most. The subtle humor and warmth he created in his books continues to inspire me," she says. "I often go back to his work when I get discouraged or lose confidence."Ms. Kasza compares the process of making a book to acting on stage under the lights:"I become the character that I'm working on at that moment. I pretend that I'm a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I'm acting, I'm a child myself."Ms. Kasza's ambition is not to create a hundred books, but to "create one really good book that will be kept on the family bookshelves for generations, although a hundred really good books would be even better, of course!"Keiko Kasza lives in Indiana with her husband and two sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Friendship and Fun, September 21, 2000

By 

Michael S Roberts - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dorothy and Mikey (Hardcover)

What a humorous story about how people can get along. The author, Keiko Kasza, has given the reader a delightful story to read and share on the gift of friendship and the comedy of who got the last laugh. It reminds me of a childhood incident and therefore this will be one book that I will be sending to a sister who always tries to get the last laugh. I am laughing now, as she will laugh when reading this book. May you also enjoy this story.

4.0 out of 5 stars 3 Short Stories About Friends, February 24, 2002

By 

Dawn Woolcott (Vancouver WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dorothy and Mikey (Hardcover)

Dorothy & Mikey are two friends who play, argue, make up and have fun together. The book contains 3 short stories about playing together & how girls don't always have to be the princess-in-distress, bragging, and keeping secrets from each other. The stories have happy endings with the friends settling their differences. The illustrations are cute. The stories interested my 3 1/2 yr old daughter alot as immediately following reading the book she wanted to act out the stories and play dorothy & mikey.