Review: ✔ "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 22, 2014
This is a delightful children's story, but methinks this book is good for adults too, with the very creative and fun art. Before you read the story, look at the cover art.  At first I didn't see the waving flower or the mouse in shadow, but I shouldn't have been surprised, because on page 16, we visit the "Talking Flowers."Somebody had a fun time with these illustrations! Don't rush past them--look at them carefully. You could have a lot of fun with your little boy or girl, looking at the illustrations, and asking questions like this: "Do you see the little happy-face buttons on all the brownies?"  And don't miss that mouse peeking around the corner on the "Six Busy Brownies" illustration--I think he's sniffing out all the good food.  And what are those purple creatures with the red stocking-feet in the hen house?  And what is that little round "chick" and what is he looking at on page 15?  That chick looks like Mr. Potato-head!  Finally, on page 21, the "life vest" is actually a happy face!To fully appreciate the artwork, be sure to read on a color device.  My Kindle PaperWhite doesn't do justice to the illustrations.I wouldn't get overly worried about whether Brownies are good or bad. For this story, they are obviously busy helpers, and of course, they are the "good" Brownies.  I admit I had never heard the term before.  I thought this was going to be a cooking book for kids (well, not really.)  I had to look up the term, "Brownie."  Here is what I discovered:"Brownies are said to inhabit houses and aid in tasks around the house. However, they do not like to be seen and will only work at night, traditionally in exchange for small gifts of food. Among food, they especially enjoy porridge and honey. They usually abandon the house if their gifts are called payments, or if the owners of the house misuse them. Brownies make their homes in an unused part of the house."  [Wikipedia]All in all, a really fun story, great artwork, great edition, great cover--and above all the cute little "side stories" in the art.  Highly Recommend!♫ A Review by Chris Lawson