Janet's Thingamajigs

From Publishers Weekly In this third picture book about twins Janet and Jimmy, Cleary's sure ear for the dialogue of young children is evident. Janet collects small objects which she calls "thingamajigs," (mimicking her mother's expression) and keeps in paper bags in her crib. Jimmy wants badly to touch Janet's things; Janet passionately doesn't want him to do so. Readers, both children and adults, will recognize the true-to-life quality of the twins' bickering and of their mother's exasperation. The problem is resolved as both children voluntarily give up the now babyish thingamajigs when their cribs are replaced by real, "grown-up" beds. DiSalvo-Ryan's cheery, colorful pencil-and-wash pictures suit the tone of the story exactly. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1 The reissue of Two Dog Biscuits and The Real Hole (both Morrow, 1986) introduced four year olds Janet and Jimmy to a new generation of readers. This new story about the twins portrays sibling squabbles as a part of growing up. Janet likes to collect little treasures and resents Jimmy's handling them. When their mother suggests to Janet that she bag them and put them in a special place, Janet chooses her crib. As the crib fills up and bags begin to spill out of the bars, the day is saved when a surprisenew twin bedsarrives. The bags are forgotten as the twins celebrate a milestone in growing up. DiSalvo-Ryan's full-color pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, large enough to be seen by a group of young listeners, depict the commonplace with warmth. Soft frames are broken occasionally by hands or toys. Two additional strengths are a patient but firm mother and the reassurance of seeing real children, instead of bears or bunnies, dealing with some of the skirmishes of family life. Susan Hepler, Windsor Public Library, Conn.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.