Mimmy & Sophie [Hardcover]

Miriam Cohen (Author), Thomas F. Yezerski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up

Mimmy and Sophie live in Brooklyn, New York, during the Great Depression. Like most sisters, they have a lot in common, but they're also different: Mimmy dreams of owning an Oldsmobile that she can fix with her own tools, and of growing up to be a trolley driver, while Sophie prefers to talk to her dolls. Sometimes Mimmy and Sophie are best friends, sometimes they aren't. But no matter what, they are always sisters. And although their family may not have enough money for a vacation, they can make a ride down Pitkin Avenue or a picnic on the Brooklyn Bridge seem just as much fun. These four irresistible stories unfold in fifty-eight picture frames, capturing the essence of time and place and sisterhood.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mimmy and Sophie, young sisters in Depression-era Brooklyn, are the subjects of four semi-autobiographical stories. Cohen (Will I Have a Friend?) injects a hearty dose of charm into the low-key, slice-of-life-style plot lines through her sympathetic and well-trained recall for children's voices and perceptions. The first story, for example, concerns itself simply with the purchase of two Popsicles from the street vendor, but manages to convey the depth of Mimmy and Sophie's feelings for each other as well as their distinct personalities. The other stories recount the girls' trip to their Russian immigrant grandparents ("Everybody loved Gramma's potatoes and meat and carrots in brown gravy. Mimmy and Sophie would rather have a baloney sandwich, but they would never say that"); a sibling squabble; and a family picnic on the Brooklyn Bridge. Young readers will appreciate the way the details in the different episodes intersect and layer one another; the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. Yezerski (Together in Pinecone Patch) captures the period with panels of watercolors in a faded palette and liberal cross-hatching. He avoids nostalgia by stylizing the characters; unfortunately, their odd proportions can be jarring. The appealing design, however, compensates for the off-putting figures: with blocks of text set into the panel illustrations, the format is extremely well suited to those not quite ready to tackle chapter books. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Four nostalgic stories about sisters, aged four and six, living in Depression-era Brooklyn show how life used to be, with its pleasures simple yet satisfying, and stress how love is the real heart of happiness. At a time when nickels are hard to come by, Mimmy and Sophie let their precious popsicles melt while they search the wrappers to see if they won a contest, and the kindly vendor gives them new ones. When the family visits Gramma and Grampa, the children learn how their grandparents suffered deprivation in Russia and quickly offer to share their charlotte russes. When her best friend takes up with a new girl, an angry Mimmy reacts by tormenting Sophie, but eventually the sisters reconcile as together they draw pictures on the sidewalk. When the other children brag about vacation plans, the girls' parents take them on a special trip to picnic on the Brooklyn Bridge. A childlike innocence suffuses the soft-toned pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures, which are arranged in blocks like sections of a large comic strip. The girls have big, expressive faces and short bodies, making them appear especially vulnerable. The city scenes are carefully detailed, and the artwork enhances the tender stories.
Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (March 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374349886
• ISBN-13: 978-0374349882
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,603,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mimmy & Sophie, July 5, 2002

By 

N. Beja "A Mensch" (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mimmy & Sophie (Hardcover)

Growing up in the Bronx in the 40's was not unlike the scenes of Brooklyn in "Mimmy & Sophie." The story and, especially,the illustrations, depicted the time perfectly. It brought back many memories -- falling asleep to the the sound of the streetcar on my block, playing outside without a "play date" or organized sport. I especially liked the scenes with the Charlotte Russe and the misspelling of those words. The interaction between the sisters was true to life. I'm anxious to read this book to my grandchildren and discussing what it was like growing up in New York City many years ago.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully written and illustrated story!, January 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mimmy & Sophie (Hardcover)

Thomas Yezerski and Miriam Cohen make a great team! The story of two young girls and their life together is perfectly captured in Mr. Yezerski's awesome illustrations. We would love to read more Mimmy and Sophie stories in bookstores soon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mimmy & Sophie (Hardcover)

I've got two little girls who love each other very much but are still learning to "play nice". It's great to find such a beautiful about two sisters in the same situation.