Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Itsy Mitsy Runs Away
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2011 ISBN: 978-1442406711
Mitsy is a little girl who absolutely and positively hates bedtime. Finally, Mitsy decides that she isn’t going to tolerate bedtimes anymore. She is going to run away from home. Mitsy’s dad, who happens to be a very understanding kind of fellow, offers to help Mitsy pack. He reminds Mitsy that she is going to need a take a friend along. Going without any bedtimes is all well and good, but one cannot manage without friends.
Mitsy packs up Mister Roar, who is her friendliest dinosaur, and then she prepares to leave the house. Which is when her father asks Mitsy what Mister Roar is going to eat. Misty forgot about her dinosaur’s culinary needs, and so she packs “a small snack” for Mister Roar. Then Dad reminds Mitsy that there are “bedtime beasties” out there, so she decides that she needs to take Puptart, her ferocious dog with her. She does not realize that she is going to have to take a lot more with her before she is finally able to run away from home.
Children who are convinced that running away from home is the answer to all their problems are sure to be amused by this delightful and funny picture book. As they read, children will consider what they would take with them if they were to run away. Would they too end up packing all that is near and dear to them before they left?
With expressive illustrations and a “This is the house that Jack built” type format incorporated into the tale, this is a picture book that every young child will appreciate.
