Posy provided stimulation so Bluey was never bored.
“We can all be friends!” growled Posy in her best Monster Shark voice.
The following day, Jacob said, “I made a puppet too.”
“I’ll take that!” said Posy. “This will help with the parade scene.”
“I think Bluey needs a checkup,” said Sam. “I’m a vet. May I take a look?”
“I’ll do it,” said Posy. “You’ll scare her.”
“All you need is me,” said Posy.
Overachieving Posy insists on being the sole caregiver to the class pet, a fish named Bluey. She does everything from forming fish flakes into different shapes to putting on stick puppet shows. When her classmates offer to help with Bluey’s care, Posy rebuffs them and makes all kinds of excuses as to why only she can look after Bluey. But one day, Bluey looks unwell, and Posy has no other choice but to ask her classmates for help. Luckily, thanks to the children’s research and cooperative efforts, Bluey recovers.
Young readers will enjoy the story although they will need to examine the illustrations to find out just how the kids in the class were able to restore Bluey back to health. Perhaps the main message in this book is that everyone, no matter how confident they are, needs help sometimes and that there is no shame in admitting that.
Ohi’s adorable mixed media illustrations steal the show. The children depicted reflect the composition of today’s classrooms: various races, abilities and disabilities (one child is shown in a wheelchair), and it is refreshing to see a male teacher in a primary classroom.
No Help Wanted! is a fun read!
Gail Hamilton is a former teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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