Customer Reviews

Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is one of those rare combinations of a sensitive and engaging story complemented by equally compelling illustrations. Walrod's illustrations jump out of book with funky perspectives and a masterful use of color and texture. She interprets this very good story about individuality and freindship in a way that balances an important message with a style that produces so many fun (and funny) things to look at that kids (and parents)will have a hard time putting it down

Horace, Morris, and Dolores are best friends, but as you probably surmised, of DIFFERENT GENDERS! Readers (and listeners) are so relieved when each character resists "society's pressure to conform to gender stereotypes" and follows his or her heart. In the process, their circle of friends grows even bigger! (I like that it's Dolores who makes the first stand!) Pay attention to amusing details in the illustrations!

My three year old brought this home from the library and while I first resisted this book, I eventually found myself mildly charmed by it. The story involves three mice, two boys and a girl, who are the best of friends until one day, the boys go off to join the local boys-only club and the girl reluctantly joins the girls-only club. This is where my objection to this book lies: the boys-only club looks like tons of fun, with boys playing pirate and such, while the girls' club shows the girls having tea parties and strategizing about how to "get a fella using mozzerella." Funny, I admit. But, why does the girls' club have to be so lame? The subtext seems to be: boys' games are fun for everyone but girls' games are just boring. But, the message in the end is that both boys and girls love adventure and want to play together. So, I will put aside my objections and continue to read this book, which has some great turns of phrase, to my daughter until it goes back to the library. But, I don't think I will be ordering it anytime soon.

This book Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores is a great book about friendship! It's about 3 mice who are best of friends. Horace, Morris, and Dolores who experience a big problem when they came to a BOYS ONLY CLUB and poor Dolores wasn't a boy so she wasn't invited! So Dolores sadly kicked stones around and sat around thinking. Then Dolores finally made a GIRLS ONLY CLUB. One day the girls got bored and Dolores stepped up and suggested to go for a hike "ewww gross booooo noway!" screamed all the girls! Then the boys started getting bored and then left to go on a hike and met up with Dolores. If you read this fantastic extraordainary book by James Howe you'll love the morral. This book is defenatly a kindergarden-second grade book.

This is the story of three friends, 2 boys and 1 girl, who go on adventures together. The three are inseperable until they encounter a boys only club and they boys abandon Doloris. The illustrations tell us that in this club, the boys fence, play cops and robbers and the like. Doloris soon finds a girls only club that see joins. Pictures of the club tell us that the girls have tea parties, play with dolls, and do art projects.While the friends are engaging in gener appropriate actions, they are not happy and are sad when they part each morning. After a while, Doloris gets bored of these activities and asks if anyone wants to build a fort. When the girls respond negatively she decides to leave and one other girl comes with her to pick up Morris and Horace. The other boys respond negatively to playing with girls, except for one, who joins Horace, Morris, Doloris and her new friend. The five form their own club where everyone is allowed.
The author tackles gender roles in an interesting way. He does it in a way that attracts young readers and tells them that it is ok to be a girl and build forts, or be a boy and play with girls.

It simply stands to reason that the man who brought us the wonders of Bunnicula would be a mighty fine picture book author as well. I mean, it's obvious when you consider it. James Howe's quite the talented man and "Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores" is one of those picture books that stay with you long after an initial reading. After paging through the story I went on with my life. I went to work. I watched some television. I ate some Chinese food for lunch at a remarkably low price. And all the time that I was doing all this I'd find myself thinking back to "Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores". I thought about some of the careful phrasings James Howe uses in the book. I thought about what he's saying about gender, and social constructions, and friendship. I thought about how well the story was paced and how you can write a really good picture book without its characters resorting to malice or nastiness. In the end, I just have to say that this is one of those stories that stays with you. You will not find yourself significantly changed by the book and your children may only find it mildly diverting rather than mind-blowing. But it's darn good. Darn tootin' good.

So there are three small mice at the helm of this tale. There is Horace. And there is Morris. And there is (mostly) Dolores. These three are good friends who partake of a great many adventures, schemes, and exciting walkabouts. Then, one day, the two boys come across the Mega-Mice clubhouse. Eyeing the sign that states that no girls are allowed ("What kind of place doesn't allow girls?, Dolores wondered") Dolores is regretfully but swiftly abandoned. Following suit she joins The Cheese Puffs, a remarkably girly club. This goes on for some time until Dolores can take it no longer (the Cheese Puffs have a tendency to carve things out of cheese and that's about it) and announces that she's going exploring. The girls show no interest, with the exception of Chloris. They march over to the boys and Morris and Horace join them (with new friend Boris). And thus it is that a new club is begun. And everyone is allowed to join.

Sweet stuff. James Howe is to be commended for the book, not least because he managed to think of four names that rhyme with Dolores. And yes, it's always nice to read a well-written book about inclusion that doesn't whop you over the head with its saccharine sweet message. "Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores" is tightly written and consistently interesting. Howe's words are especially good here. When Dolores tries to joke with the boys about choosing to go to an all-boy club the book points out that, "They didn't even smile". When she herself makes a joke later, she is not smiling either. Howe was coupled for this book with illustrator Amy Walrod who, prior to this tale, had never done a children's book before. It does not show. Using a cartoony style of acrylics and collage, Walrod won my heart through her infinite funny details. For example, when Dolores decides to leave the girly mice, one of them is clearly seen constructing a detailed diagram of getting a "fella" through the meticulous use of mozzarella. And when Dolores and Chloris invite Horace and Morris along, it took me a couple readings to notice that they were (at the time) tied up by their fellow "friends".

Let's recap. Smart writing. Good message (though admittedly I remember being a big fan of all-girl clubs when I was a lass). Great illustrations. I can't say it any clearer than that, my friends. "Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores" is a top-notch work of mousy art. One of the great picture books of the last ten years. That and it's fun to say the title aloud.

My son was fairly oblivious to gender role expectations until he started Kindergarten. Suddenly there was a long list of previously fun things that he didn't like anymore because they were "for girls".

"Horace and Morris but Mostly Delores" offers a fun way to start the conversation with your child about issues of gender as they come up. And the central message of the story - that we should value friends whose company we enjoy and activities we enjoy regardless of gender - is a good one.

Horace, Morris, and mostly Delores is a read aloud book. The mice are inseparable until they boys start a club. This creates at problem that is finally solved. Children of all ages will delight at the illustrations.

This book is very well worth the purchase. It has a degree of clever humor within the pictures that is sure to entertain adults as well as the slightly older children that might read it. It also, more importantly, has a wonderful message that will be good for any young reader within the age group for which this book is intended. Wonderful illustrations. All in all, a great book for kids (though probably better for a younger age group, as it is fairly short).

she loves this book and the way it give children the idea that ANYONE can be friends!