Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Birdie has a knack for dressing up (Birdie's Big-Girl Shoes; Birdie's Big-Girl Dress), and she loves "HALLOWEEN!" The problem: she doesn't have a costume idea yet; Birdie and Mommy visit the museum for inspiration. The spunky story maintains tension, holding out on Birdie's (gloriously girl-powered) choice until the end: Birdie isn't First Lady, she's the president. Like Birdie, Rim's bright mixed-media art sparkles with style.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Wardrobe concerns have often loomed large for Rim-s heroine, so it-s only natural that picking the perfect Halloween costume proves tricky for her. A museum visit gets Birdie thinking about dressing up as someone historic (Rim shows portraits of Neil Armstrong, Joan of Arc, Sandra Day O-Connor, and others on display), and when Birdie asks, -Mommy, can I really be anything I want to be?- the subtext of the question extends well beyond costumes. Birdie-s final decision? Well, it involves her dog dressing up as a Secret Service agent, and it-s not a -First Lady- costume, as one of her friends initially guesses. As in the previous Birdie books, Rim creates graceful mixed-media portraits of stylish kids being kids-playing touch football, jumping in autumn leaves, and thinking, just a little, about what their futures might hold. Ages 4-8. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (July)

School Library Journal (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

PreS-Gr 2 Birdie loves the fall. She loves apple picking, cool weather, and playing football with her friends, but most of all Birdie loves Halloween. She loves to dress up, go trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins. Most times, she has no problem deciding what to be, but this year is different. She knows she can be anything she wants, but what does she want to be? During a trip to the museum, Birdie is introduced to an array of historical figures, but she doesn't want to be Sandra Day O'Connor, Neil Armstrong, or Eleanor Roosevelt. If Birdie can really be anything she wants, then she is going to be the president of the United States. This timely holiday story is charming, and the message is clear. The magic of dressing up at Halloween is that we can let our imaginations run wild. In the end, Birdie dreams big and celebrates her best Halloween ever. VERDICT This lighthearted offering is a good addition to any library's holiday collection, especially with this being an election year with the possibility of a female president. Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY