Rita and Whatsit!

Rita et Machin #1

by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod, Olivier Tallec (Illustrator)

Rita is a little girl with a big personality.
Whatsit is a dog without a name.

Rita enjoys dressing up, running around, and being in charge. Whatsit enjoys chewing on things, sleeping, and cheating at checkers. Together, they are perfect friends.

In this, the first book of a new series, Rita is not pleased with any of her birthday presents...until one of them starts running away.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Dogs

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2006

About the author

Après des études à l'Ecole normale supérieure et une agrégation de lettres, il est aujourd'hui professeur de français dans un collège. Boulimique de lecture durant toute son enfance, il s'essaye assez tôt à l'écriture et publie son premier roman en 1984. Lorsqu'il écrit pour les adolescents, c'est avec le souci constant de leur offrir des livres qu'il aurait aimé lire lui-même à leur âge. Il se fie donc à ses souvenirs pour écrire et profite du contact avec ses élèves qui ont l'âge de ses héros de romans. Depuis 1994, Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod est consultant sur les collections de fiction de Gallimard Jeunesse et est directeur de la nouvelle collection Hors Piste.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in France as Rita et Machin, this engaging little picture-book is the first in an ongoing series detailing the adventures of "a little girl with a big personality" and a "dog without a name." In a bad mood, and determined NOT to be pleased with anything at her birthday party, Rita is surprised to find that she is intrigued by at least one of her presents. After all, it's moving! But is she ready for a new companion? And more importantly, is he willing to be that companion...?

Olivier Tallec's simple pencil illustrations, with the occasional red embellishment, ably convey Rita and Whatsit's changing emotions, from serious pique to harmonious contentment. Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod delivers a realistic but sympathetic portrait of a willful young girl who - like most children - can be both unpleasant and kind, and a most unusual dog who - when he chooses - can be quite communicative. As the jacket informs us, "Together, they are perfect friends."

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rita's a bit of a prat. Somebody should read her Bossy Bear.

[Lydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's Rita's birthday, but she's in a bad mood, so is determined not to be happy with any of her presents. Then one of her presents starts to run away! After catching it she finds a dog inside, who she eventually names Whatsit and they decide to be friends.

I do not like Rita. She is behaving very badly, she treats the dog very badly and her parents and the dog just take it with no repercussions for her (senseless) misbehavior.

No typical content issues, but Rita's bad attitude with everyone tip-toeing around her instead of calling her on it means I would never give this book to one of my nieces!

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute picture book that I read out loud to my friend and translated! When Rita's birthday rolls around, she's pretty grumpy, despite all the presents she has. But there's one that seems to move around--a dog? Rita must turn her gift into a real dog by choosing a name. Hopefully she'll choose the right one!

With at-times absurd and simple illustrations, this book allows for plenty of imagination. Definitely a fun little romp, and even better practice for my vocabulary!

[Lily Tice Weaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Minimalistyczne ilustracje mają swój urok, ale opowiastek nie zrozumiałam.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been a much cuter story if Rita wasn't such a brat. Sorry, but being in a "bad mood" for no apparent reason (and despite being further spoiled with tons of presents, including a new puppy, on your birthday) is no excuse for being such a little wretch.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Rita's birthday, and despite the heaping mound of presents, she is in a foul mood and cannot be cheered. Until she spots a wrapped box jiggling across the floor, that is. Inside is a dog with no name, one Rita's not even sure she wants to keep. "I'm warning you," said Rita, "if you're another stuffed animal, you're going in the trash!" Illustrations all in charcoal pencil with spare touches of red and much white space keep the focus right where it needs to be: squarely on Rita and Whatsit as, gradually, Rita's frown is replaced by a smile. Readers are left with the feeling that this is one relationship that will last for years to come.

There is a sweetness behind the slightly sardonic humor. That's what makes me like it.

[Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, Rita strikes me as a spoilt brat of a child, with a permanently sullen expression and the type of bossy attitude I would never have been allowed to get away with.

According to reviews of other books in the series, Rita and Whatsit have a great relationship, but I didn't see it from the "Come back here or I'll tear you apart!" nor the "I warn you... you'll go straight in the bin!" (The little dog's heart thumps at this - Rita you horrible child) nor the "don't... or I'll wrap you up in your box again." nor, for that matter from her rubbing him across the floor with the broom until his back is bent like a concertina and calling him "floorcloth".

This is not charming in any way.

[Relyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do this thing. I find an illustrator I admire and check out every single book they have been a part of. This leads me to wonderful new authors and exciting discoveries. I don't know how I came across Olivier Tallac, but I have been reading books he illustrated. Mostly, I like his art, but not the types of books he illustrates.

What I am finding is that while I love the spare style of French films, this author's children's books are not quite my thing. The spareness that I love in films, I don't necessarily love in books. The sensibility really is quite different from what I am used to. The seem to be more adult, more sophisticated, a little snippy, and with a lot less story.

[Lauren]

This books opens up a great opportunity for Writer's Workshop: what are some adventures that Rita and Whatsit go on? What animal would you get as a pet that could talk to you? What would you do together? What would you name it?

[madziar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mała Rita jest dosyć humorzastą dziewczynką. Pewnego dnia dostaje na urodziny małego pieska i od tej pory stają się nierozłączni.
Szare szkice na białych stronach ozdobione są gdzieniegdzie plamami czerwieni (łatka na oku pieska, sukienka dziewczynki). Krótkie teksty.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple but cute illustrations about a girl in a bad mood on her birthday and a strange moving gift that needs a name. Very cute and nice flow to the story. Ages 2+

[Sam Bloom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked some of the illustrations a lot, and there were a few funny moments, but overall this really seemed like one in the crowd of little-girl-with-a-big-attitude books out there right now.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a terrible little girl. Great illustrations but their is nothing to make me care about the story.

[MissInformation · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bratty girl gets charmed by the gift of a puppy who resists her bossy style. Simple pencil drawings add lightness to the mood.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations for a very vanilla story. Maybe it gets better as the series continues...