Excellent Ed

March 7, 2016
Ed, a scruffy white dog whose tail seems to be in a perpetual state of wagging, worries that he doesn’t measure up to the African-American family he lives with. The Ellis children are talented athletes, bakers, ballerinas, and more, and even when Ed hits on things that he does excel at, the children show him up. “I’m definitely excellent at breaking stuff,” thinks Ed as Sarcone-Roach (The Bear Ate Your Sandwich) shows him in the midst of a kitchen with garbage and glassware strewn across the floor. But then Elaine goes and “breaks” a soccer record. And while Ed is good at losing (objects he buries) and forgetting (to wipe his paws), the twins lose their first teeth, and Edith aces a dance audition by forgetting to be nervous. Dominated by bright yellows and grassy greens, Sarcone-Roach’s mixed-media pictures brim with familial warmth and mischievous canine energy, while McAnulty (the Dino Files series) leaves readers with the worthwhile message that it sometimes takes an outside perspective to recognize one’s strengths. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, Rodeen Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management.

Starred review from March 1, 2016
Ed, the Ellis family dog, has many talents, but none of them matches the excellence of the five Ellis children's--or so he thinks. Ed longs for a place at the family table, in the van, and on the couch, if only he can think of something that he excels at. But from soccer and ballet to math and baking, Elaine, Edith, Ernie, and twins Emily and Elmer outdo Ed at things that seem the most important (and delightfully counter to gender-stereotypical fashion). Endpapers show Ed twirling and rolling across the title page and into the story, where he's maneuvered himself right out of the striped sweater he's been dressed in. He sits wagging his tail at the feet of all five of the Ellis kids, their affection for one another and for their dog obvious. There is a lot of humor in the illustrations and wordplay that children will delight in. Ed imagines that he might be best at "breaking stuff," till Elaine comes along boasting of a broken record, for instance. A frustrated Ed finally feels noticed for the talents that only he has: cleaning the floor when food is spilled and giving a warm doggy welcome when the family comes home. Rounded, loose lines and vivid splashes of color in acrylics, watercolor, crayon, and grease pencil make for a cheery depiction of life in a middle-class African-American household. A warm, welcome reminder that everyone is excellent at something. (Picture book. 3-6)

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May 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Alliteration is key in this energetic book. Readers are introduced to the Ellis family members, whose names all begin with an E (Elaine, Emily, Elmer, etc.), including Ed, the Ellis's beloved dog. Ed notices that all of the Ellis children shine at something (soccer, math, ballet); however, he has difficulty discovering where his talent lies. He tries some naughty skills like "breaking stuff" and "losing things," but he never seems as accomplished as the rest of the family. His sadness dissipates after he is reminded by the children how much he excels at welcoming them home and warming their feet as they gather together at the end of the day. This is a diverse family with calming expressions that are illustrated well through the use of soft crayons and pencils, surrounded by gentle brushstrokes of light green and muted yellow. School librarians may enjoy reading this aloud, as it can spark wonderful discussions regarding pets, a favorite topic of children and adults alike.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Each alliteratively named Ellis child is "excellent" at something; their dog, Ed, excels at things that aren't necessarily desired (e.g., "breaking stuff"). In an affirming twist, Ed achieves his own kind of excellence in the loving home. McAnulty's playful text and Sarcone-Roach's mixed-media illustrations (which depict the Ellises as a family of color) excel at communicating the family's warmth. In a word? Excellent.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 1, 2016
Ed, the beloved dog in the Ellis family, has a bit of an inferiority complex. Each of the five alliteratively named Ellis children has something that he or she is "excellent" at doing: Ernie bakes cupcakes, Elaine plays soccer, Edith dances, and twins Emily and Elmer are math whizzes. Ed, on the other hand, frets about not being allowed to sit on the couch or "use the indoor bathroom," and the things at which he excels aren't necessarily desired skills (e.g., "breaking stuff"; "losing stuff"). Worse, he's not even the best at them. Elaine: "I broke the record for most soccer goals in a season!' Elaine was better at breaking stuff than Ed." In an affirming twist, the family ends up lauding the special ways Ed enriches their lives because of all the things he isn't allowed to do (licking food off the floor: "I am an excellent floor cleaner. Maybe that's why I don't eat at the table?"), and he achieves his own kind of excellence through the special place he occupies in their loving home. McAnulty's playful text takes pains, without being self-conscious about it, to shake up gender norms, and although their race is unspecified in the text, Sarcone-Roach illustrates the Ellises as a family of color. The mixed-media illustrations, too, excel at communicating the family's warmth and lighten Ed's identity crisis with humor and vitality. In a word? Excellent. megan dowd lambert

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2016
Ed, the beloved dog in the Ellis family, has a bit of an inferiority complex. Each of the five alliteratively named Ellis children has something that he or she is "excellent" at doing: Ernie bakes cupcakes, Elaine plays soccer, Edith dances, and twins Emily and Elmer are math whizzes. Ed, on the other hand, frets about not being allowed to sit on the couch or "use the indoor bathroom," and the things at which he excels aren't necessarily desired skills (e.g., "breaking stuff"; "losing stuff"). Worse, he's not even the best at them. Elaine: "I broke the record for most soccer goals in a season!' Elaine was better at breaking stuff than Ed." In an affirming twist, the family ends up lauding the special ways Ed enriches their lives because of all the things he isn't allowed to do (licking food off the floor: "I am an excellent floor cleaner. Maybe that's why I don't eat at the table?"), and he achieves his own kind of excellence through the special place he occupies in their loving home. McAnulty's playful text takes pains, without being self-conscious about it, to shake up gender norms, and although their race is unspecified in the text, Sarcone-Roach illustrates the Ellises as a family of color. The mixed-media illustrations, too, excel at communicating the family's warmth and lighten Ed's identity crisis with humor and vitality. In a word? Excellent. megan dowd lambert

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)