Review Detail

BUSY BETTY is a cute picture book about children who are always on the go. Betty is excited for her playdate with her best friend Mae, and as she is getting ready, she realizes her dog is a bit smelly and needs a bath. Having watched the professionals, Betty feels up to the task. However, as she gets into it, staying focused feels challenging. Before she knows it, Mae is there - and Mae gets excited about the possibility. They decide to open a dog wash to all their friends, starting a new business.

What I loved: This is an engaging picture book about busy children who are always on the go. Betty keeps working through her distractions as she works to give her dog a bath. Then, with her friend, they create something even cooler - a new dog wash business. The illustrations are simple and focused on Betty and key characters. The text itself is large and clear throughout, making it easy to read aloud.

What left me wanting more: As a small thing, there was not really a lesson or clear theme to the story, and it felt like maybe something was missing from the plot. The book is also a bit wordy in places, though this is used to capture Betty's stream-of-consciousness with distractions and sidetracks.

Final verdict: BUSY BETTY is a cute story about a young girl who is always on the go and the cool business that she and her friend start.