From the Publisher
Homemade fun and simple pleasures abound
Mimmy and Sophie are sisters who live in Brooklyn, New York, during the Great Depression. Even though their parents don't have a lot of money, Mimmy and Sophie still have lots of fun together, whether they're finding treasure, going to Coney Island, or playing in mud puddles.
Charming black-and-white drawings by Thomas F. Yezerski accompany these sweet stories, perfect for independent reading or for reading aloud, about two sisters who aren't always best friends but are always there for each other.
Publishers Weekly
Mimmy and Sophie: All Around the Town by Miriam Cohen, illus. by Thomas F. Yezerski, brings back the playful sisters and their everyday doings in their Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood during the Depression. Yezerski's b&w drawings depict the siblings and their friends digging for treasure, riding a carousel and heading to the movie house. About Mimmy and Sophie, PW said, Cohen "injects a hearty dose of charm into the low-key, slice-of-life-style plot lines through her sympathetic and well-trained recall for children's voices and perceptions." Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Susan Hepler, Ph.D.
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Children's Literature
Cohen and Yezerski team up, as they did for Mimmy and Sophie (1999), to relate six more vignettes in the life of the two sisters who live in Brooklyn during the Depression. The girls find buried treasure in the form of a can of Cracker Jack toys half buried under an alley bush, visit Coney Island and, unbeknownst to their parents, earn some money tap dancing on the boardwalk, get separated from each other at a Shirley Temple matinee, and shed their winter stockings. The quiet stories are permeated by sisterly squabbles and love, especially when they are challenged by a too-bossy neighbor child or the younger Sophie becomes lost at the movies. Yezerski's ink wash and line art are generously featured throughout each chapter and flesh out period details of Cohen's timeless stories and any new reader who appreciates gentle, loving family stories will enjoy this easy chapter book. 2004, Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 6 to 8.
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-This gentle chapter book takes readers back to Brooklyn during the Depression era. Two sisters introduced in Mimmy and Sophie (Farrar, 1999) spend their days together, sometimes just the two of them, other times with their friends or their parents. Mimmy often wearies of her big-sister role, and Sophie frequently gets tired of being left out by the older children, but the girls always stick up for one another and truly appreciate their time together. The focus here is on the everydayness of being sisters, friends, and daughters. Although there's a clear historical setting, many of these adventures could take place today. With plenty of dialogue and straightforward action, this charming story is just right for newly independent readers. Yezerski's black-and-white drawings illustrate the era, while conveying all of the energy of the characters. Fans of series such as Cynthia Rylant's "Cobble Street Cousins" (S & S) will enjoy spending time with Mimmy and Sophie.-Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Mimmy and Sophie are back! Cohen and Yezerski team up again with six endearing stories about sisters growing up in Depression-era Brooklyn. Whether they are hunting for treasure in a vacant lot, pretending that Kool-Aid is wine, raising funds for a merry-go-round ride at Coney Island, or celebrating springtime in Brooklyn with a romp in a forbidden puddle, Mimmy and Sophie are sisters to remember. These small moments are the ones of childhood everywhere and should bring a knowing nod to children and parents alike. Who doesn't remember dragging herself, covered with mud, to a disapproving mother? Who hasn't had a quiet discussion with the Rice Krispies as they murmur their "Snap! Crackle! Pop!" at the breakfast table? Mimmy might sometimes feel saddled with the responsibilities of being the older sister, but, in the end, she sticks by Sophie and learns to appreciate the gentle warmth that only a little sister can bring. These comforting, familiar situations, nostalgically illustrated, will bring a smile to any young reader. A treasure for those not quite ready for Cleary and Hurwitz. (Fiction. 6-10)
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