Review Detail

Sidney loves to write poems, but when he creates one for a friend, he realizes his own name wont rhyme with anything but kidney. Sidney searches for a new rhyme-able name and settles on Joe, but when his friends and his mother tell him they prefer his original name (he was after all, named after his great-great-great grandfather who invented the mop!) he rethinks his moniker and settles on a better option.

Dont Call Me Sidney by Jane Sutton addresses a relevant subject for children learning to appreciate ones name.

Sidney is a gentle, high-minded character who deeply cares for others feelings and thus admirably anchors the story. But his poetry could be construed as either A) highly realistic for what children write or B) exceptionally mediocre verse that could have been better executed for the sake of the story. The answer is probably A, but had Sidney been a truly good poet, the story would have benefited. The humor of Sidneys situation, a lousy poet concerned over a non-rhyming name, will be lost on young children and perhaps even adults. Besides, lets teach children about excellent verse by example.

This said, the book subtly encourages children to chase their passions and to persevere when complications arise (e.g., Sidney continues to pursue his love of poetry even when a difficult name throws him for a loop.) Sidneys respect for his mother and love of his friends also set a positive example for children.

Illustrator Renata Gallio uses acrylics, pencil and collage to reveal a plush look in muted tones. The texture of the canvas shows in the book and creates this feel.