School Library Journal review

My lovely editor sent me this - what a nice way to start the day!

Preschool to Grade 4 - 7/1/2007 - School Library Journal

Gr 2–4—Mokie and Bik are fraternal twins who live on a houseboat. "They lived in it, on it, all around it, monkeying up ladders and down ropes, over the wheelhouse and across the cabin floor." They live with their artist mother and their nanny, Ruby, while their father is on his ship at sea. This active pair are "always overboard and underfoot," and Ruby uses a boathook to fish them out of the water. The twins have a colorful language all their own—cats are "hissers," fish are "fisk," potatoes are "tatties," and their Mum is always "arting" or "botormiking." Orr has created a memorable tale with vivid characters reminiscent of those in the "Pippi Longstocking" stories. The author has infused her tale with whimsical language ("Erik was humph, grumph mumphry thundercloud grumpy," and seagulls go "squawk wawk rawking") that will both surprise and delight listeners and confident chapter-book readers. Bean's pen-and-ink drawings and colorful cover capture the exuberant spirit of the twins and splendidly match their energetic adventures.—Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY