Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3?Arnie takes his new skateboard to the park, where he and his friend Tina watch the “cool kids” jump barrels and careen up ramps. When the two friends first try these tricks they fail miserably, but later, with practice, they succeed and are made regular members of the gang. Then Fly, the leader, suggests a trip to Hairy Kerry Hill, where he agrees to go down first and takes a terrible fall. Fly volunteers Arnie to go next. Faced with a difficult decision, he pictures himself with a broken leg as a result of his bravado. He turns down the challenge, ending up an even bigger hero as the other kids all follow him back to the park. In simple, short sentences, Carlson uses the exploits of these anthropomorphic animals to teach young readers a valuable lesson. Bold backgrounds hold her familiar cartoon characters bedecked in brightly colored, hip outfits, accented by the well-placed text. Her fans will relish Arnie’s latest adventure.?Dot Minzer, North Barrington School, Barrington, IL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 4^-8. Carlson’s latest funny picture book about Arnie combines exciting skateboard action with an unobtrusive message about conformity and independence. Arnie’s excited when he gets a skateboard for his birthday. He practices hard, until he finally gets accepted by the cool skateboard crowd that hangs out in the park. The leader, Fly, is Arnie’s hero. But when Fly wants them to skateboard down a steep, dangerous hill, Arnie finds the courage to refuse and leads the gang back to safety. Arnie is a bespectacled cat in striped T-shirt and shorts, and the energetic illustrations with animal cartoon characters in neon-colored clothes bring a joyful exaggeration to the story. This is a good book for discussion of peer pressure: kids will relax with the action and recognize how hard it is to stand up to the crowd. Hazel Rochman
