Pretty Minnie in Hollywood

March 15, 2016
A white French girl named Francoise takes her tiny dog along when she accompanies her fashion-designer mother to Hollywood to work on a movie in this second series outing (Pretty Minnie in Paris, 2014). Minnie is a pampered teacup Chihuahua who enjoys an opulent lifestyle with Francoise and her mother in their Paris apartment that has a view of the Eiffel Tower. They pack matching outfits for their trip, fly together on the plane (with the dog in her own seat), and enjoy first-class accommodations and sightseeing in Hollywood. Francoise and Minnie visit the movie set, where they meet a snarly pink poodle with a starring role in the film. The poodle acts up and is conveniently fired, so Minnie gets her part in the movie. The slight plot by bestselling author Steel is told in polished but predictable prose, with a perky, sparkly tone matched by the jewel-toned, oversized illustrations. Valiant's detailed illustrations give Minnie an engaging personality that's hard to resist, and young readers will enjoy Minnie's tiny costumes and fancy accessories. The hotel staff and cast and crew of the movie include people of different ethnicities, including the film's African-American director. Fluffy and shallow but sweet, with an exuberant effect, from the sparking glitter on the cover to the cast party with "Pupcake Cupcakes" at the end. (Picture book. 3-7)

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July 1, 2016
In Minnie's second outing, the Parisian Chihuahua travels to Hollywood with her young owner and her mother, a designer who must deliver a dress to a movie set. Screen dog Fifi is axed for growling at Minnie; gee, whoever will replace her? Colorful, well-composed illustrations of a chic dog being pampered can do only so much for a predictable story so thinly plotted.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)