Peter McCarty

Chloe the bunny, the object of Henry's affections in author/illustrator Peter McCarty's Henry in Love, returns in this second picture-book. Here she is the middle child in her family, with ten elder siblings and ten younger. Although normally an enthusiastic participant in group activities, Chloe isn't thrilled when her father brings home a television, and family fun time turns into everyone sitting together, staring at the screen. Fortunately, Chloe has an empty box and lots of bubble wrap show more to keep herself entertained, and to draw her relatives' attention away from the television...

It's been a few years since I read Henry in Love, but looking over my review, I see that I loved McCarty's artwork but was unimpressed by his story. With Chloe, I once again loved the illustrations, but was also favorably impressed by the story. As someone raised without a TV during my formative years, I appreciated the message, implicit in the story here, that actual familial interaction and group play beats out passively watching televised entertainment. I also appreciated the ending, in which Chloe imagines that she is hearing bubble-wrap being popped in her dreams, when the artwork makes it plain that Daddy Bunny is busy popping downstairs. Recommended to fellow Peter McCarty fans, and to anyone looking for children's stories that take a less-than-positive view of television. show less

Summary:

Henry is in love with Chloe, the loveliest girl bunny in his class. One day he decides to impress her at recess with his best forward roll, and she shows off her perfect cartwheel to him! They spend the rest of recess chasing each other, and then the teacher sits them next to each other in class. Henry decides to give Chloe his delicious blueberry muffin at the end of the day as well, an adorable sign of true love.

Personal commentary & reflection:

Oh my god I love Peter McCarty. First show more off, his illustrations are so awesome. The way the characters have small eyes but big faces and bodies, and the way the background art is really minimal so you are drawn to the characters - it's so well put together! He also doesn't use a lot of bright and highly contrasting colors so the whole story and illustrations are both really mild and smooth feeling, it almost feels gentle. It helps give the characters a child like innocence... it's hard to articulate but I really just like the feeling of his illustrations.

When he shows Henry "getting ready for the day" in the bathroom on the 2nd page- so cute! And the plot I thought was adorable, a perfect little story about young love blossoming over blueberry muffins. When you're young, you don't have a lot of resources to share to express your love, so the fact that Henry gives Chloe his blueberry muffin that he was saving all day is just so perfect. It reminds me of my crushes in elementary school, the way they flirt at recess. This was definitely one of my favorite books so far. I'm going to recommend it to my girlfriend! show less

With simple text and luminous artwork, children's author/illustrator Peter McCarty explores one day in the life of the eponymous Hondo and Fabian, a dog and cat duo who live together and are good friends. While Hondo heads to the seashore, to spend the day romping with his fellow canine, Fred, the feline Fabian remains at home with the baby, having his own form of fun. But at the end of the day, the two are together again, enjoying their evening meal, and their favorite napping show more places.

Awarded a Caldecott Honor in 2003, Hondo and Fabian has a gentleness to it that is very appealing, with a simple text of no more than a sentence per page - "Two happy dogs dive in the waves. / Fabian dives for the door." - and gorgeous artwork that just seems to glow on the page. My first book by Peter McCarty was Henry in Love, which I appreciated for the artwork, but found rather uninspired, textually speaking. Here, however, the words and images work together flawlessly, resulting in one of those quietly impressive books, whose appeal can take the reader by surprise. Recommended for very young cat and dog lovers - McCarty clearly understands his felines and canines! - and for anyone looking for lovely, comforting bedtime fare for younger, preschool-age children. I myself will definitely be tracking down the sequel, to see what happens when Fabian Escapes. show less

In my opinion, Chloe, is a great children’s modern fantasy book that sends a message to its readers that family time is the best time! This message is seen in the illustrations, the writing and through the main character of this story.

I feel as though the illustrations were very supportive of the text, and simple as well. Each bunny is the same color; however, each bunny has a different color somewhere on them: their shirt, their glasses, a tie, a bracelet, etc. This gave each bunny their show more own identity, which I felt was important since it was a big bunny family. Chloe, the middle ‘child’ had 10 older brothers, 10 older sisters and then a mother and father. Thus, there are a lot of bunnies on each page and I feel as though the illustrator did a great job at making the illustrations subtle, yet, engaging with the pastel-like colors on each bunny. Furthermore, the text and the illustrations go hand in hand with each other. For example, the mother and father bunny had a new TV delivered and Chloe did not think watching TV after dinner was good family fun; Chloe said, “This is the worst family fun time EVER,” as the illustration shows Chloe and one of her younger sisters standing in front of the TV, blocking her families view, shouting with her hands raised. The illustration helps the readers get an idea of how passionate Chloe is about wanting to spend fun quality time with her family.

The writing in this story is so simple and engaging. It is easy to follow and fun to read. The main character, Chloe, wants nothing more than to be with her family; and within the language of the writing the readers can become engaged in her character and feel how she is feeling. Chloe’s character is so sweet and innocent and we can see that through the writing. For example, Chloe and one of her sisters found bubble wrap in the TV box, they began to play with it. And soon “Everyone wanted to be with Chloe.”

Great little read! show less