Brockenbrough, Martha. Frank and the Big Mistake. John Lau, Illus. Levine Querido, 11/2024. 80pp. Fiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-64614-460-0. Paper $6.99. 978-1-64614-499-0. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.
This third tale involving Frank the cat, Sunny the dog, and Cap’n Keith the parrot features a harrowing visit by Nellie, a young girl with tan skin and black eyes and hair. Her unexpected visit causes angst and trouble for the animals because they have only heard that a nibling—which they misunderstand to mean “nibble”—is coming. Sunny mistakenly tries to taste Nellie and is put in her crate, while Frank is treated to an upsetting basket ride, and Frank and Cap’n Keith are shoved into clown outfits. Luckily the adults intervene, showing Nellie how animals should be treated, and the visit improves. Fast-moving text, divided into seven easy chapters, pairs with the various sized, poster color paint-like illustrations depicting Nellie and the animals. Readers progressing into transitional chapter books will enjoy this story, as well as laugh at and learn from the animals’ treatment.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library