Esmé Shapiro

Assumptions and perception are not always what they seem. This is an adorable book to jumpstart conversations around a very kid friendly mystery. I chuckled and smiled as I read through this adorable book. It kept me reading to figure out the mystery. This is a great book for preschool and elementary age classrooms.

The prose is charming, and the illustrations lively. The book is nicely bound. I appreciate when early reviewer copies are fully-bound since it gives a feel for what the reading experience is for young kids.… (meer)

The whimsical illustrations created with watercolors, collage, and digital elements are the first clue to the reader or listener that this is a book with some fantastical elements. A small boy named Weasel thinks he know about everyone in his neighborhood except for the inhabitant of the "peculiar house at the end of Lilypod Lane," the house with the name ROY across the front. Could a dog be Weasel's neighbor? He decides to find out! Weasel is an endearing character with huge brown eyes, unruly black hair, and a winning smile. His friend Pam Pam has oversized glasses, a fanciful red hairdo and big black eyes. Pam Pam has a logical answer for everything. "...Weasel, your evidence is faulty. Roy is DEFINITELY NOT a dog." Weasel continues to collect evidence. In the end, Weasel and Pam Pam are both surprised when the mysterious Roy is revealed. The illustrations are deep and richly colored and deserve as much attention as the text. This is a good title to share with seasoned listeners who appreciate a quirky story.

(a LibraryThing Early Reviewers Copy)… (meer)

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing EarlyReviewer program. On my first read as an adult I wasn't excited about it, but then read it with my 8 year old who was delighted and really liked how silly it was. I like the details in the rich illustrations and suspect there will be something new to discover every time you look at the book. The plot is a kid thinks one of their neighbors is secretly a dog, and they set out to prove it to their friend who doesn't believe them. It worked as a mystery book while also leaving clues to other mysteries for the reader to notice on their own.… (meer)