Lottie's New Beach Towel by Petra Mathers (1998, Hardcover)

Synopsis
Lottie the chicken has a number of adventures at the beach, during which her new towel comes in handy.

Key Details
Author:	Petra Mathers
Language:	English
Format:	Hardcover
ISBN-10:	0689816065
ISBN-13:	9780689816062

Additional Details
Illustrator:	Petra Mathers

Size
Height:	7.3 in
Width:	10.5 in
Thickness:	0.5 in
Weight:	10.4 oz

Publisher's Note
Receiving a new towel from her Aunt Mattie, Lottie learns during a visit to the beach all of its valuable uses, from a cool resting place for her burning feet, to a sail for her broken boat, to a colorful veil for a troubled bride.

Industry Reviews
In the spirit of her Sophie and Lou, Mathers captivates readers with this unorthodox oceanside outing starring two charming feathered friends. As Lottie, a chicken, prepares for a picnic with her duck pal Herbie, a package arrives: a red-and-white polka-dotted beach towel sent by Aunt Mattie, who thought it "might come in handy." Aunt Mattie was right: by day's end the towel has, among other things, helped Lottie carry her ice cooler across the burning sand ("Hop off the towel onto the cooler. Towel, cooler, off, on... all the way down to the water"), served as a sail for Herbie's boat and provided a stylish if unconventional headdress for a bride whose veil has blown away. That night Lottie sits down to write the thank-you note to end all thank-you notes, while the towel dries on a clothesline under a starlit indigo sky. Mathers paints a portrait of a winsome heroine characterized by unflagging practical resourcefulness and bursts of romantic inspiration. She achieves this end through the expert crafting of a low-key yet humorous text and droll art. For example, in a double-spread of four panels, Mathers depicts Lottie when she first reaches the beach and challenges a wave; then as the wave sweeps her up so that only her feet show, next in a barrage of bubbles and finally the discombobulated chicken says, "Is that my foot? Silly me, it's a starfish." Mathers builds pleasingly uncluttered compositions with simple lines, flat perspectives and bright colors, using detail sparingly but whimsically (after lunch Mattie knits a lime-green three-toed sock). A sunny, summery book that captures the feel of a long, eventful day at the beach, and one that will be remembered for many seasons to come. Ages 3-8. (June)
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PreS-K Unlike Janet Stoeke's charmingly foolish Minerva Louise, Lottie is neither cuddly nor befuddled. Instead, she is a quirky character, full of creative ideas. In fact, this quick-thinking chicken finds many uses for the bright beach towel her Aunt Mattie sent as a gift. She walks on the polka-dotted towel to keep her feet from burning on the sand, uses it as a sail when her friend Herbie's motorboat conks out, and offers to lend it to an unhappy bride who has lost her veil. She ends the day by writing to tell Aunt Mattie of all her unexpected adventures. Mathers's own quirky sense of humor is readily apparent in the clever illustrations and deadpan delivery. Observant readers will be amused by Lottie's knitting (she's making socks shaped for chicken feet) and by Herbie's voracious appetite (he consumes at least three pieces of wedding cake). They'll also be impressed by Lottie's ability to make the best of a bad situation. The back cover suggests that Lottie, like Minerva Louise, may eventually appear in more than one picture book. Her reappearance will be eagerly anticipated by those who enjoy this low-key yet engaging offering. Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
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