Meet Sophie and her BFF Berenice - Quirky Picture Books

9/1/2014

Hello all, in case you don't know this book, I'd like to introduce you to Sophie and her BFF Berenice. I love that this book works on so many levels - the universal theme of wanting a friend or loved one, memorable characters (a girl and her squash), wonderful understanding parents, great minimal text with lovely language, and great art that's a wonderful match to the text that also adds a little more character and flavor. It's one of the books that we'll be looking at in the upcoming Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books along with a whole slew of other contemporary quirky and or soulful books that straddle the line of literary and commercial writing.

Here are the things that I love about it:

Fabulous characters
Hooks you right in with a subtle question - What are Sophie's plans for the squash?
Takes you along on a wonderful ride without it being overtly plot driven. Uses great language and a combination of predictability (kids love guessing what comes next) and surprises
Ends with a lovely twist
Endearing illustrations

To which I say, "Well done author Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrator Anne Wilsdorf , editor Stephanie Pitts, and whoever the art director was, congratulations to you too!"
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do.

48 Comments

Angela apadron link

9/7/2014 07:27:26 am

What a cute concept for a picture book. Love the illustrations - they really captured this lovely character. I'm going to pick this up at my library this week!

Debbie Best

9/7/2014 09:30:02 am

Thank you Mira for sharing this with us! The concept and illustrations are wonderful. I like how in the beginning Sophie's mom goes along with her using the squash as a friend, but then as time went on mom realized that Bernice was going to soon become mushy. Sophie, still didn't want anything to happen to Bernice. Love this story!

Mira Reisberg

9/7/2014 02:06:19 pm

Love this book too!! Thank you for your comments. Yes, the story feels very real even though it's such an unlikely relationship.

Joanne Sher link

9/7/2014 07:36:10 am

ADORE this book - studied it a while back in a group that studies debut authors on Facebook. Can't wait to dig in even more in the course!

9/7/2014 02:07:55 pm

Thank you Joanne. Sounds like a real interesting group. How do you know which ones are debut authors?

Alice

9/7/2014 07:36:55 am

I loved this book and I would recommend it to both parents and teachers of young children. Would a great book to use to encourage children to learn about growing things in family gardens, deck gardens or outdoor classrooms! This book can also motivate children to sit in nature settings to draw or written about what they see. Sophie's determination is also noteworthy.

9/7/2014 02:09:44 pm

Thank you Alice. I agree. The story has great curriculum connections.
I loved Sophie's tenacity too.

M.J. Marston

9/7/2014 07:54:21 am

Loved this book from the first reading. Wonderful themes of friendship, loss and renewal told through a very kid-centric story.

9/7/2014 02:12:51 pm

Love how you got right to the underlying themes and deeper meanings - things that makes a book more magical by tapping into children's (and adults) universal experiences.

Tanya Smith link

9/7/2014 07:57:13 am

Looks so cute. My kids are so attached to their blankets
blankets, I can't imagine having to deal with this situation. I'm curious to see how it turns out.

9/7/2014 02:14:18 pm

Thank you for your comment. I'm in total agreement and just a heads up, it has a lovely wee twist at the end. :)

Alexia Andoni

9/7/2014 08:01:35 am

Love, love, love! What an endearing story about Sophie and her new-found friend. I can't wait to pick up a copy to learn the ending!

9/7/2014 02:15:10 pm

So glad you are going to buy this. It makes a wonderful mentor text to study.

Johnell link

9/7/2014 08:42:00 am

I loved this book. I had to wait months before it became available at my local library to read it. After I did, I could see why it was so popular. It's very fun.

9/7/2014 02:16:30 pm

Johnell, glad you got to read the whole thing. Yes it's lots of fun with darling illustrations and some meatier themes thrown in to boot. :)

Sita Singh

9/7/2014 10:13:32 am

It's one of my favorite books. A cute story of friendship every child can relate to. I can read it over and over again!

9/7/2014 02:37:09 pm

It's one of my favorites too. We have another one we'll be studying from the same publisher and editor called Sparky! that I'm also in love with. Looking forward to sharing it with you.

Kim Chaffee

9/7/2014 10:35:31 am

What a sweet and entertaining story! I love the character of Sophie because she seems like a tender little girl who has so much love to share. Her emotionality is captivating. I also enjoyed the layout of the text and illustrations. I feel like they added to the reading enjoyment and helped move the story along.

9/7/2014 02:38:29 pm

Great description Kim, I love how you got to the heart of it. Thank you so much for commenting.

Manju Howard link

9/7/2014 10:54:17 am

Thanks for sharing Sophie's story. I need to add this book to my mentor text collection.

9/7/2014 02:47:02 pm

Thank you for commenting Manju. Now of course I want to know what else is in your mentor texts collection. Using mentor texts is such a great way to self-study.

Lenora Riegel

9/7/2014 11:01:56 am

What a great find! Now, I have to get it so I can study it up close and find out what happens to Berenice. Hearing the manuscript was snatched from the slush pile, gives me hope that that actually happens. Thanks for sharing Mira!

9/7/2014 02:49:29 pm

Thank you for commenting Lenora. Yep slush pile success stories are the best and this is how younger assistant editors get to build their reputations enabling to move up the ladder. Sweet hey. Stephanie Pitts is especially savvy (and lovely).

Nicole Popel link

9/7/2014 11:48:19 am

This book showcases the universal theme of man caring for towards that are vulnerable, such as children, or a squash in the role of a child. Sophie feels the tug of mothering with this squash, and she mimics the role of a protective parent. This is evident in all cultures and I love the tenderness and care that Sophie gives her squash. A heartfelt book!

9/7/2014 02:50:41 pm

What a beautiful analysis. Thank you for commenting Nicole.

Karen Brady

9/7/2014 12:22:31 pm

What beautiful illustrations and an endearing story! Thank you for sharing this with us, Mira. Of course, now I have to know how the story ends and see the artwork up close, so I bought a copy for myself (directly from Random House/Schwartz and Wade). Looking forward to learning more about Sophie and her Squash!

9/7/2014 02:53:56 pm

You made me smile Karen. Thank you for that and for buying the book. And buying it directly is the best way to go. Smaller imprints like Schwartz and Wade, who have the most lovely team of editors, get to choose and publish more offbeat books like this if they do well with other offbeat books so the more we can benefit them directly the better.

Virginia Rinkel link

9/7/2014 12:48:56 pm

I ABSOLUTELY love this book. Bought a copy and sent it to a great 3 year old. The universal themes of love, determination, role of great protector, and simply fun to follow through expressive illustrations, make this book a total winner in my 'book'. I love the line, where mother is considering 'cooking' Sophie's new friend, and as she tells mother, "I call her Bernice", and mother answers "I'll order pizza", just tells volumes of what's to follow with much intrigue as to how is this really going to end. End it does in a truly delightful way and a very clever comment by a farmer's market kind vendor. Love, love, love this book!

9/7/2014 02:55:08 pm

Love, love, love your analysis, especially the quote. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Carella Herberger

9/7/2014 01:15:28 pm

Love this, and will have to get a copy ASAP to see how it ends, as I've never even seen this book before! Thanks Mira for sharing it and for your insights into it from a professional viewpoint. Very interesting...

9/7/2014 02:57:06 pm

Thank you for commenting Carella. It's such a lovely book with a neat twist at the end. I think you'll really enjoy it and it makes a great mentor text to study.

Stella Jane Stauffer link

9/7/2014 02:17:50 pm

What a wonderful imaginative premise. Thank you for bringing this delightful picture book to my attention. Will look for it on my bookstore's shelf.
I'm especially looking forward to looking at the illustrations up close.
Thank you, Mira!

9/7/2014 03:02:53 pm

Stella, thank you for taking the time to comment. Yes the art is as wonderful as the text. I think everyone on board this project did a stellar job.

Dianne Burch

9/7/2014 02:18:13 pm

This sounds like a darling little book, with much to share. Even the title hooked me - seemed like a play on an adult favorite "Sophie's Choice". I will definitely order a copy to see how this beautiful family settles this dilemma. It also sounds like a keeper for my personal chldren's book collection,too. Thank you for a detailed review without spoiling the read, just the perfect amount of reveal.

9/7/2014 03:06:00 pm

Dianne, thank you for the comments. Yes I thought the title was lovely too. It's not too cutesy like Sophie the Squash would be but it has that snappy alliteration and it's got that 2 syllable 1 syllable sound pattern that can be so pleasing. Glad that you liked keeping the mystery. :)

Jay Polowski

9/7/2014 05:03:11 pm

My first hook is the cover with a squash and a child. Squash is one of my favorite veggies and I love going to Farmer's Markets but how can that be a story? The story has a warm and snuggly appeal as shown by the mother and daughter relationship and the family dynamics as Sophie cares for her "child" squash. Lovely book. Wouldn't it be fun to sell the book at Farmer's Markets!

9/12/2014 12:23:53 am

Great comments Jay. I love squash too, especially the featured butternut squash and yes to selling it at farmer's markets. What a hoot.

Mariana Fay

9/7/2014 05:14:14 pm

Such a spirited little girl! I especially loved that the squash was just her size, making it rightfully part of her realm as a child. I remember thinking as a child that smaller versions of "adult things" were children's things, and see that now with my grandbabies. Her possessiveness and protectiveness over this BFF that she has acquired will be understood readily by small people, while we as big people will be amused.

9/12/2014 12:26:19 am

Love your analysis of this. I think this is really helpful for other writers and illustrators to consider especially with language like in the realm of childhood and the need for kids books as much as possible to be appreciated by both kids and adults. Thank you.

Christa von Zychlin

9/7/2014 08:09:41 pm

Thanks, Mira! One of my goals is to be the Auntie/Grannie/Writer who knows how to pick just the right PB for the right little person, and I'm ordering a gift copy of Sophie's Squash today. But I'm going to read it first, because I MUST find out what happens to that squash.

9/12/2014 12:28:36 am

What a great comment with a very worthy goal!! Thanks for making me laugh :) I look forward to your becoming the Auntie/Grannie/Writer who knows writes the right PB for little people :)

Jennifer Birkenhead

9/7/2014 09:44:29 pm

I loved this story. I hadn't read it before, but was immediately hooked BEFORE the 1st page - I loved the end papers! You could really see the character, and how lovely and spirited she was before you got to the story. And I loved how awesomely eccentric she was, picking a squash for her 'lovey' - and how supportive her mom was. I can't wait to see the rest in class - but I may not be able to wait, I may have to run out and buy it today! Thanks for sharing with us! :)

9/12/2014 12:29:55 am

It's a great mentor text to read and re-read. Thank you for the lovely comment.

Judyth Britt

9/7/2014 11:53:54 pm

Mira, what a delightful book. I'm definitely going to but it.

9/12/2014 12:30:45 am

So glad that you liked it Judyth :)

Mary McClellan

9/8/2014 06:26:47 am

I just returned from Barnes & Noble and now I'm going to have to go back for this book! I love to see/hear children mimic adults. (It can be quite revealing.) Love the humor "we did hope she would love vegetables." Can't wait to read the surprise end.

9/12/2014 12:32:08 am

I loved the quirky humor too. It's a big part of what makes this book so magical. Thank you for taking the time to comment. It is much appreciated.

Kirstine Call link

9/13/2014 06:21:09 am

I love this picture book! It captures the essence of childhood so well! My kids and I have read this many times and enjoy every time we read it!

Meet Sophie and her BFF Berenice - Quirky Picture Books

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