Reviews

Cecil the Pet Glacier by Matthea Harvey, Giselle Potter

wageser's review

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5.0

Such a cute, original children's story. I might get it for my nephew for Christmas!

corncobwebs's review

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I know this book is great, because it actually made me want a pet glacier! Ruby is a very ordinary little girl, and is embarrassed by her flamboyant parents: Her father is a topiary artist, and her mother is a tiara designer. Never ones to follow the status quo, Ruby’s parents decide that their family will vacation in Norway. One of the attractions they visit is a huge glacier called Cecilsmater, which happens to be shedding little baby glaciers. Already mortified by her kooky parents, Ruby can’t believe her bad luck when one of the baby glaciers starts following her around. The little guy – dubbed “Cecil” – tags along all the way home, and continues to follow Ruby. She has a sour attitude towards him, until Cecil saves one of her beloved dolls and proves his worth. From then on, Ruby realizes that Cecil is as loyal and lovable as any dog.

I LOVE this book! I love how Cecil eats pebbles, and how he eats by gliding over his food. I love the part when Ruby’s mom has to groom Cecil’s bottom, because he picks up junk as he’s gliding around. He doesn’t have eyes or a face or anything, but I just fell in love with the little guy! This is one of the most original stories I’ve read in a while, and I recommend that you read it, too! Until next week…happy reading!

melaniegaum's review

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3.0

3.5 for originality, but not enough for me to round it up to a 4.

Little girl has weird (or fun) parents and wants a normal pet. Somehow a small glacier starts following her around after a vacation to Norway and her parents declare that's her new pet. She does not want a glacier as a pet and tries to ignore it, but once it helps her out she warms up to it (pun intended).

adrielleshay's review

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4.0

Why not just go ahead and introduce your children to surrealism? With a good dose more yellow, the art could almost be screen shots from a Wes Anderson movie. The story, in my opinion, could have pushed a bit farther in the end, but all-together, CECIL is a charming mix of sweet and strange.

I've not seen work by either author or illustrator before, but I will be looking out for it now.

seawitchexlibris's review

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3.0

Not a good storytime book but still a cute and quirky read.

angelina41's review

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4.0

Cute, but strange!

starnosedmole's review

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4.0

An adorable and eccentric story about a little girl who wants to be normal, but finds it difficult between her quirky parents and a glacier that becomes her pet. Wacky and more appropriate for slightly older children, that cold little glacier melted my heart.

noveladdiction's review

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4.0

My gosh this was cute.

middlekmissie's review

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5.0

An absurdist masterpiece about the (lack of) charm of fitting in, and accepting others for who they are.

yeahdeadslow's review

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4.0

I pulled this randomly from the shelves at the library to put on the display bit at the top of the children's shelves. I was intrigued by the cover... I didn't even register that the blue thing next to the girl was a glacier (hence the book's title); I was way too distracted by the slight eeriness of the girl on the cover holding three dolls who looked exactly like her.

It was still on the display a couple days later, so in a quiet moment I (of course) read it. I don't know whether I'm relieved or disappointed that the book didn't end up being about Ruby and her dolls, heh. Either way, the quirkiness and sincerity of this story really appealed to me. Also it was super fun to retell later on to my family.