Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

The prickly seedpods from Sticky Burr are back. When ill-tempered Scurvy Burr discovers Sticky Burr is planning a festival, he resolves to stop it. Scurvy elicits the help of Burweena, a burr so nasty she was banished from the village. The story, in cartoon-panel format, moves quickly, with lively dialogue and unfussy watercolor and ink illustrations in forest greens and browns.

School Library Journal (Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Gr 2-4 In this sequel to Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burrwood Forest (Candlewick, 2007), the narrator is Scurvy Burr, the naysayer in that book. Annoyed at how the village thinks more highly of Sticky Burr than of him, Scurvy makes a deal with exiled Burweena and her insect army to take over Burr Village. Scurvys grumpy dislike of the idolatry surrounding Sticky Burr, and his general feeling that hes unappreciated by the burr community, is reminiscent of Oscar the Grouchs personality and provides an enjoyable, if unreliable, perspective. This book could offer a useful lesson for children about inclusion and communication, but Scurvy Burrs motivations seem to be simply that hes championing that which is properly prickly, or appropriately burrlike. After his inevitable betrayal by Burweena, he doesnt learn that being different is okay or that hes part of a community; he remains an unapologetic foil, unhappy with his cheerful neighbors. The mild peril of the adventure is fine, and the humor rungs true, but there may be a missed opportunity here. Impeccably cute and with high-quality production, this is a fun, if simple, pleasure. Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

ALA Booklist (Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

In this second adventure in Burrwood Forest, cranky Scurvy Burr takes over the narration as he once again argues with sweet-tempered Sticky Burr about the true nature of burrs: are they "prickly by nature" or, like Sticky, do they love art, music, and "cheerful nonsense"? A visit to evil, exiled Burweena's lair in Spooky Glen provides new drama, but it's the rivalry among Burrwood members that forms the heart of the story, which ends with messages of tolerance. As in the series' first title, Lechner's clean-lined comics move the endearing cast of prickly pod characters briskly through to the warm conclusion.