Mini & Milo: The big flappy ears by Venita Dimos & Natashia Curtin
The first book in this new series, Mini & Milo: The teeny-tiny voice, introduced the two friends, one much larger than the other as they roam around their friendship.
In number two in the series, The big floppy ears, the duo is concerned about Mini’s hearing. In class she is warned about leaning back on her chain but does not listen, so falling as the chair topples under her. She does not hear Milo giving her one lick of her ice cream and gobbles down the lot. Despite her extra large ears, Mini misses the information about the class excursion. Milo is super excited about a trip to the museum thinking about all the things she will see there. Mr Scott asks Mini if she heard the instruction and Mini said yes, but next day when she arrives at school, the classroom is bare.
She spends the day wondering where everyone is until she remembered the excursion. The next day she asks Milo to help her heard things, and together the two try to solve the problem. They think of a number things to do but they do not seem to work. Mini then suggests that perhaps she needs to remember things, so uses sticky notes to recall important information.
Trial and error helps support decision making, while working together on a problem supports friendship and cooperative behaviour. The Mini and Milo series create situations where cooperation is at its centres and children reading will see that problems can be solved through cooperation and trying things out, particularly after asking a friend for help.
The illustrations give a solid grounding for the story, showing the two friends as they work together solving the problem. Details will draw readers into look more closely, and they will laugh out loud at some of the things they see. The illustrations roam all over the pages, using a variety of design features to stimulate the reader. And I loved the images of Mini as she tries to be a good student.
Themes: Cooperation, Friendship, Problem solving, Teamwork, Humour.
Fran Knight
