Smack Dab In The Middle [Hardcover]

Anita Riggio (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Normally, Rosie Roselli revels in her huge family. It's twenty-eight people (including aunts, uncles, and cousins), and she's smack dab in the middle of them all. But when nobody seems to have enough time to notice all the good work she is doing at school with her teacher (Sister Celestia), Rosie decides to run away.

Using humor and insight, Riggio gives a fresh retro twist to this classic dilemma. Armed with Sister Celestia's wisdom, Rosie learns she can stick up for herself in a most unique way.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rosie Roselli is "smack dab in the middle" of Riggio's (Beware the Brindlebeast) uplifting tale. She has "a mother and a father, a sister and a brother, a grandma and a grandpa, a nonna and a nonno, four aunts and four uncles, and twelve cousins-six older and six younger." Each day, Rosie dashes home from school, eager to show her family the star she received for her counting project and other newly acquired skills, but always more pressing matters take precedence over her. Riggio's spreads play up the mounting tension with bold black outlines of the characters filled in with a 1950s palette (each character in a shade of chartreuse or mod pink)-except for Rosie, who always appears as a white cutout with rosy cheeks and knees. Finally, after drawing her family portrait in art class (rendering herself "the teensy-weensiest person" in the picture) and announcing to her teacher that the portrait will serve as a reminder when she runs away, the wise teacher gives her "homework": everyone in her family must sign the back of the portrait. Not surprisingly, everyone rallies around Rosie ("You are the yellow in our daisy," her aunts and uncles proclaim, "And we are the petals," her 12 cousins chime in). The story may be predictable, but the unusual style of the artwork conveys the family's warmth even through their unwitting negligence. This tale may well comfort youngsters who identify with Rosie's plight. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Grade 2-As the middle child in a large extended family, Rosie Roselli sometimes feels unappreciated. When she receives a gold star from her teacher, Sister Celestia, she rushes home to show everyone, but they are too busy to pay attention. The same thing happens when she wants to play a tune on her red trumpet: "Rosie waited for her little cousin to be helped. She waited for her big cousins to be carted. She waited. And waited. But no one came back to listen. Rosie Roselli paled." When the girl draws herself as the "teensy-weensiest" person in her family portrait and says that she will "run away," Sister Celestia recognizes her sadness and gives her a special homework assignment. As each member of her family signs the back of her artwork and reassures her, the child realizes that "Maybe they do love me, even when they can't look or listen." The computer-aided color illustrations have a 1950s feel, with details such as saddle shoes, crew cuts, and yo-yos. Rosie is a delightfully spirited character with "tempo in [her] toes," and she stands out in white paper cuts against background washes of reds, greens, and yellows. Young children feeling left out and jealous of their siblings will relate to her struggles.
Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399237003
• ISBN-13: 978-0399237003
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,316,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, September 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Smack Dab In The Middle (Hardcover)

Rosie is a true heroine--full of pluck and heart. This is a terrifically reassuring story for those "nobody loves me" days that all children experience at some point. The quirky artwork is inovative and fun--Riggio's characters each have their own unique personality, but Rosie will steal the show and your heart as well. Let's hope there will be more Rosie books on the way!

5.0 out of 5 stars Rosie Solves the Riddle of the Middle, May 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Smack Dab In The Middle (Hardcover)

BOOKPAGE REVIEW BY ALICE CARY

Poor Rosie Roselli. She's a shining young star at her Catholic school-as Sister Celestia can attest-but no one at home has time to notice her accomplishments. That's because she's Smack Dab in the Middle of herlarge Italian family, which includes grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, a sister, a brother and 12 cousins.They're all busy taking care of babies or responding to the older kids' demands and schedules.

In this classic tale of the overlooked middle child, Rosie comes home from school toting a gold star for her good counting work and a bright red horn for her musical ability, but day after day, everyone's too busy to notice. Author-illustrator Anita Riggio writes of the middle child's plight from her own experience, explaining, "Rosie Roselli really needed a hug. She needed a hug right this minute, but her mother's arms were full of Rosie's sister. Rosie Roselli couldn't wait." After several days of this type of treatment, Rosie gives up and decides to do what any self-respecting "feeling neglected" child might-run away. Of course, Rosie's story has a happy ending, and she ends up smack dab in the middle of a huge family hug.

Riggio's exuberant art has a 1950s retro feel, showing teenage girls in poodle skirts, fathers in ties, Rosie with saddle shoes and kids in Mickey Mouse Club attire. Her colorful, near silhouette-style figures are done in India ink, gouache, cut paper, stamps and, last but not least, with the help of a computer. Rosie, whoremains in white amidst her "colorful" family, always stands apart, the center of the book.

Sister Celestia-a religious figure rarely seen nowadays in young children's books, excepting Madeleine-brings to mind the effervescent Singing Nun. She's a ball of energy, realizing that Rosie is a star. When she gives her students an assignment to draw a family portrait, she saves the day for our heroine.

Smack Dab in the Middle is a book to which many children will relate, because, no matter how many or how few siblings a family contains, parents are always too busy at certain moments to lavish their kids with attention. So roll on, Rosie! The energy of this little twirling character will never be lost, even in a crowd.

5.0 out of 5 stars smack dab in the middle smacks a home run!, October 14, 2002

By 

andre yuro (nj,usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smack Dab In The Middle (Hardcover)

Recently the book, Smack Dab In The Middle by Anita Riggio came to my attention. As a retired pedagogue its appeal was instantaneous. Every child or adult can sometime relate to feeling underappreciated. When one is "caught" in the middle of a large family it is very easy to be "lost in the shuffle".

The soothing, sagely advice and shared experiences of this book have meaning at any age. The illustrations are quirky and heartwarming.

As an adult it is fun to be able to read a children's book, and come away smiling and feeling good about life.

Author/illustrator Riggio obviously has taken the love of her family and creatively translated it into this wonderful story.

Thanks for the experience!!!!!