Beatrice Doesn't Want to

by Laura Joffe Numeroff

Book Overview

A humorous story of a stubborn little girl, a patient older brother, and the magical workings of the local library. Beatrice doesn't like books or reading -- and she especially doesn't like accompanying big brother Henry to the library three days in a row. But that's where he has to take her while he works on his dinosaur report. Naturally, Beatrice doesn't want to get books from the shelf. Beatrice doesn't want to let Henry work. And Beatrice certainly...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763611603
• ISBN13: 9780763611606
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.5" x 10.5"
• Age Range: 3 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Illustrations Make this Book Fun

Beatrice is the little sister of Henry, who must write a report for school. Henry therefore needs to go to the library to research his topic. Because he is responsible for Beatrice, Beatrice must come along. Beatrice is the typical preschooler: petulant, easily bored, moody, and attention-seeking. Eventually, Henry finds something in the library that Beatrice enjoys. As others have noted, this story is not particularly creative or novel. The entertainment value comes from two sources: the lively illustrations and Beatrice's dialogue. All the characters in the book are dogs of various breeds; the illustrator (Lynn Munsinger) has captured the playfulness and emotions of the dogs very well. In addition, Beatrice's dialogue lends itself to animated reading aloud. She repeats some lines (such as "I don't want to"), but really, all of her lines sound like classic preschooler comments that are easy to exaggerate for the entertainment of your listening audience (which, of course, is your preschooler). The best audience for this book would be three- to seven-year-old girls. I read it to my six-year-old daughter, who enjoyed it. My four-year-old son got a little bored with it, perhaps because the lead character (Beatrice) is a girl. (Plus, he prefers dinosaurs and Batman to quiet books about the library.)

Dogs make cuter whiners!

Beatrice was a girl in 1981; in 2004 she was reborn as a beagle. What a difference 23 years and a change in style and technique make! "Beatrice Doesn't Want to" is Writer Laura Numeroff's updated colloboration with Illustrator Lynn Munsinger to present a stubborn pup instead of a whiny girl. I like it! The stubbornness is not fun for Brother Henry, but siblings need to learn how to get along with recalcitrant people. After all, they may have one for a boss, or worse, marry one. Learn cooperation early. Beatrice's brother Henry does. This update, however, is now just about even with the expiration date. Henry wears hip-hop clothes while Beatrice dresses collegiately. She's cute in her pleated skirt, striped sweater, and hairbow. This style will probably never fade. The big problem is Henry's responsibility, which he handles. He's in charge of her care for the three days he must do research in the library for a report. Beatrice is not cooperative. In fact, she is the epitome of a pesky little brother or sister. Finally, on the third day, Henry discovers that a reading of a popular best selling chiildren's picture book will take place. Oh joy! But not to Beatrice. Finally, Henry puts his paws down and makes her go. To her utter delight the character loves to skate board through the house just as she does. Ha ha or woof woof (whichever works). Beatrice loves this story. Loves it! After the reading is over, she asks the librarian if she can have the book. Of course. The look on Beatrice's fact--I want to know where the illustrator found that look. It is magnificent! It is blissful! Actually, all the facial expressions are just priceless! Beatrice starts out not wanting to read or hear stories or go to the library. But there's magic in the place. Beatrice gets a dose and is cured of her contempt for reading. Hooray! While the change of childish behavior to a more socialized way may be the obvious point, I must offer this: Change is often a correct and good component for making life better and more rewarding. Or something like that.

cute book

This book arrived promptly and in great condition. It was very cute reading, highly recommended!

Sally Doesn't Want To Either

This is a children's book about a little girl, a little sister who has a preconception about books and has to go to the library with her older brother. Beatrice is a little girl who doesn't like books nor wants to go to the library with her brother Henry. But she has to go becuse he has to do a book report on dinosaurs, and she goes to the library for three day's in a row. Henry tries to suggest things for Beatrice to do but supprisingly she doesn't want to. I like this book because I read it to my daughter and she enjoys it. It is a good book to read to her because it shows her how she can act sometimes when she "doesn't want to." The book helps her see that even though she may think that something is bad because she doesn't like it, doesn't mean that it's bad at all. This book is very good especially if you have a Beatrice, or in my case a Sally.

A Fun Book!

[...] While the outcome might be predictable to you, in the eyes of a child it's probably not. We got this book out of the library, have had to renew it several times. My 4 year old daughter enjoys this book. She enjoys the expressions by both Beatrice and her brother Henry. This book has become part of the bedtime routine for over a month. I will say that as a parent I found some of the illustrations to be off. On the page where Beatrice finds herself in the children's room, the character Wanda does not look really interact with Beatrice in the illustration. The story is enchanting; however, the illustrations could be a bit more accurate in depicting what is happening in some instances.