Product Description

Feeling neglected because of the family's new baby, Anna transforms herself into different animals hoping to be noticed. A warm and observant story of a child who uses her imagination to express and explore her unique personality. Full-color illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1582410 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Amazon.com Review
Anna needs a little attention. There's a new baby in the house, and she's found it takes considerably more effort to get noticed these days. One night she dreams she is a bird, but when she wakes up, she isn't. "I could be a bird, said Anna. I could be. And she flapped her wings." She proceeds to transform herself into an amazing variety of species with the help of her trusty plaid bathrobe. She drapes it over her head and trundles to breakfast as a bear, growling. "A bear is too small, said Anna. No one notices a bear. I'll be an elephant." After eliminating a dinosaur (not cuddly enough) and a rabbit (too quiet) as possibilities, she finally decides to be a lion, because a lion can play, and hide, and roar... and more. At the end of the book, the whole family (including the new baby) cozies up for story hour. "Would they love a lion? Yes, they'd all love a lion." Kady MacDonald Denton's ebullient, color-splashed illustrations--especially the faces of Anna and her family--are reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's work. The bulky forms that her bathrobe assumes are perfectly, humorously evocative of the animals she's pretending to be--and every page is a delight. Kids will adore discerning the animal shapes in the bathrobe, the idea of pretending to be different creatures, and of course, the warm reassurance that Anna is loved after all. This wonderful, whimsical read-aloud belongs on every child's bookshelf. (Ages 3 to 5) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly
Anna attempts to divert attention from the new baby when she uses her plaid bathrobe to pretend she is a series of animals. PW called it "plenty of child-centered fun." Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 3^-5. Denton's slight but charming picture book will remind children a bit of Rosemary Wells' stories about lovable, impish Max. Anna's desire to be noticed, to be something special--a rabbit, a bear, a dinosaur, a growly lion--is typically childlike, as are her imaginative, comedic endeavors to use her beloved bathrobe to effect the change. Her goofy antics are delightfully portrayed in the freewheeling, colorful pictures, which capture Anna's undisguised elation at disturbing the status quo. Stephanie Zvirin

Customer Reviews

Wonderful
Our 11 month old daughter seeks this book out no matter where we put it in the bookcase. She loves making the sounds of all of the animals, and I love that the illustrations encourage her imagination and sense of play. We love this book!

read daily
My 2 year-old daughter LOVES this book, we had originally checked it out from the library but after needing to renew it I decided it was a book to join the collection, especially since every nap and bed time warrants a reading. The story is so beautifully imaginative and the illustrations exquisite. The bathrobe, which you see through the eyes of Anna, can become anything.