Grumpy and bossy little kid makes a friend. I like the genuineness of the kid's emotions. Good opportunity to talk with your kid about how to behave! ( )

Originally published in France as Rita et Machin, this engaging little picture-book is the first in an ongoing series detailing the adventures of "a little girl with a big personality" and a "dog without a name." In a bad mood, and determined NOT to be pleased with anything at her birthday party, Rita is surprised to find that she is intrigued by at least one of her presents. After all, it's moving! But is she ready for a new companion? And more importantly, is he willing to be that companion...?

Olivier Tallec's simple pencil illustrations, with the occasional red embellishment, ably convey Rita and Whatsit's changing emotions, from serious pique to harmonious contentment. Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod delivers a realistic but sympathetic portrait of a willful young girl who - like most children - can be both unpleasant and kind, and a most unusual dog who - when he chooses - can be quite communicative. As the jacket informs us, "Together, they are perfect friends." ( )

Grumpy and bossy little kid makes a friend. I like the genuineness of the kid's emotions. Good opportunity to talk with your kid about how to behave! ( )

"Rita and Whatsit," written by Jean-Phillipe Arrou-Vignod with illustrations by Olivier Tallec is a story about a grumpy birthday girl named Rita. She is in a bad mood and thus none of her presents are what she wants. Her last present, however starts to move around the room. Intrigued, she opens it to find a dog inside. However, Rita is determined to stay in her bad mood. She threatens to put the dog back in the box if he doesn't stop hiding, yells at him to stop sleeping, threatening to name him Floor mop. But, she finally decides that the perfect name for a dog without a name is Whatsit. To her surprise, Whatsit replies, "That's perfect!" Although she is stunned that Whatsit can talk, they decide that they will be great friends.
This book has really cute illustrations which are simple but convey a lot of the emotion in the text. The book doesn't seem to have much of a didactic message and it's overall themes are confusing and would not be easy for a child to understand. Rita comes across as mean and this is not reasoned or dealt with in the end of the story. ( )