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wordnerd153's review
3.0
Probably more enjoyable as a read aloud with elementary students than in my head at my desk. Could spark some interesting conversations about the effects of our behavior and what it means to be good or bad.
pussreboots's review
5.0
Harriet likes books with characters who have her own name. We don't call her Hattie but she uses it when playing video games. So I had to check out Hattie the Bad by Jane Devlin.
But then I felt guilty about it. What if she thought I thought she's bad, I worried. I read the book myself and found it hilarious. Hattie's got a thing for orange paint and frogs, but I still didn't read it to Harriet.
Instead, I chickened out and put the book amongst the other library picture books. I didn't mention it was there; she can read well enough to read the titles. She quickly found it, read it herself, giggled and then insisted that I read to her (in case she missed anything).
Hattie gets bored of being bad and decides to be good. She's as good at being good as she is at being bad. She's too good for her own good and in her moment of triumph comes to her senses and regains her bad streak.
Hattie the Bad ended up being a hit with both Harriet and Sean and got many re-reads before it had to go back to the library.
But then I felt guilty about it. What if she thought I thought she's bad, I worried. I read the book myself and found it hilarious. Hattie's got a thing for orange paint and frogs, but I still didn't read it to Harriet.
Instead, I chickened out and put the book amongst the other library picture books. I didn't mention it was there; she can read well enough to read the titles. She quickly found it, read it herself, giggled and then insisted that I read to her (in case she missed anything).
Hattie gets bored of being bad and decides to be good. She's as good at being good as she is at being bad. She's too good for her own good and in her moment of triumph comes to her senses and regains her bad streak.
Hattie the Bad ended up being a hit with both Harriet and Sean and got many re-reads before it had to go back to the library.
tashrow's review
4.0
Hattie was a very good little girl until she realized how dull it was. Then she became Hattie the Bad, doing naughty but very fun things. The other children loved her, but their parents stopped letting them play with Hattie. So Hattie decided to be good again, perfect even. The parents started pushing their children to be more like Hattie, but then the children stopped playing with her because she was so perfect. Hattie was so very good that she even got an award for being the Best-Behaved Child Ever! When in front of the cameras and asked to speak, Hattie stopped being good for good.
This book is all about being true to yourself and not trying to be what others expect you to be. Hattie strikes a nice balance at the end of the book, being quite naughty, with “just a teensy bit of good.” Devlin’s writing is over the top, adding to the fun and zinging energy of the book. Berger matches that with his great illustrations. Though the cover has a limited orangey palette, the book uses a more full spectrum of color. Nicely, the illustrations have a bit of seventies vibe in them. Readers should have fun watching for the frogs to appear and reappear throughout the book as well as laughing in glee when Hattie turns back into herself.
A naughty girl, perhaps, but a very nice read. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
This book is all about being true to yourself and not trying to be what others expect you to be. Hattie strikes a nice balance at the end of the book, being quite naughty, with “just a teensy bit of good.” Devlin’s writing is over the top, adding to the fun and zinging energy of the book. Berger matches that with his great illustrations. Though the cover has a limited orangey palette, the book uses a more full spectrum of color. Nicely, the illustrations have a bit of seventies vibe in them. Readers should have fun watching for the frogs to appear and reappear throughout the book as well as laughing in glee when Hattie turns back into herself.
A naughty girl, perhaps, but a very nice read. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
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