ALA Booklist (Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2005)

Rose, dear, said Mama, please get ready for bed while I have a quick chat with Uncle Fred. But Mama's phone chat isn't quick at all; it goes on long enough for a series of visitors to burst through the front door: four muscular delivery men with party supplies (despite Rose's protests that there isn't any party); an assortment of party guests; waiters with trays of hors d'oeuvres; a magician looking for an assistant; and a band in need of a drummer. Rose calls for help at each stage of the folly (MAAAAAAAAMA . . . I need you right now!), but Mama is too busy to respond. Told in rhyme, this fanciful book perfectly characterizes the impatience children experience while waiting for adults' attention. The watercolor art has an upper-crust, period feel (butlers, gentlemen with top hats, and jazz bands), and Mama, phone to her ear, is spotlighted within a circular border that separates her from the party shenanigans. Kids will relate to Rose's troubles; adults will appreciate the staging.

Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Delaney once again combines chills with character development as Tom and others face difficult questions. Should common enemies always create allies? Can Tom kill his friend Alice's murderous mother? Meanwhile, the soul-sucking demon buggane poses a constant threat. Arrasmith's black-and-white illustrations reinforce the idea that the supernatural creatures, even Tom's temporary cohorts, are worth a shudder.

Kirkus Reviews

While her oblivious mother's off answering a phone call, an increasingly frantic young Rose finds her bedtime routine interrupted by the successive arrival of a lively formal dress party, a magician in need of an assistant, and a dance band in need of a drummer. Boiger illustrates the burgeoning chaos with a wispy, whimsical elegance reminiscent of Hilary Knight's art, placing a very small, tousled redhead in gracious, upper-crust surroundings, and adorning the array of partyers in Depression-era evening garb. Hearing Mama hang up at last, Rose firmly ushers the interlopers out the door, and collapses into bed just in time. Composed in loosely rhymed verse to a chorus of "It's hard to believe, but Rose did ALL that / before Mama had finished her quick little chat," this reads like an arch amalgam of Eloise and Peggy Rathmann's 10 Minutes till Bedtime (1998), and is sure to send privileged tykes (and their parents) off to bed with a case of giggles. (Picture book. 6-8)

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

Redheaded Rose, in her white nightgown, is almost ready for bed when Mama picks up the phone saying to her, """"Brush your teeth. Wash your face.... Hurry, let's see/ if you are able to do all that,/ before I finish my quick little chat."""" Rose, however, finds herself with much more to cope with when the doorbell starts ringing. First come """"four muscley men"""" bringing party supplies, followed by a crowd of eccentric partygoers in fancy dress. A group of waiters ask Rose to help pass hors d'oeuvres, a magician saws her in half, and a group of musicians draft her as drummer. With each new arrival, Rose tries to alert Mama, who uses delay tactics that children will find familiar (""""In a minute... I'm just about through""""; """"I'm coming!... In a second or two""""). Newcomer Boiger fluidly conveys both the heroine's frazzled feelings and her can-do attitude. The fashions and accessories, such as the party guests' attire and Mama's phone, have a 1920s feel; Rose's home, a quaint Victorian row house, seems to expand inside to accommodate the gala festivities in full-bleed spreads, while the scenes in which Rose tries unsuccessfully to get Mama's attention appear as spot illustrations. This entertaining romp (which ends with Mama none the wiser, and Rose fast asleep) will resonate with any child who has ever had to wait for a parent to wind down a phone call. Ages 4-7.

School Library Journal (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2005)

PreS-Gr 2 Mama answers the phone, telling Rose to get ready for bed,/while I have a quick little chat with Uncle Fred. However, before the redheaded girl can do so, the doorbell rings and four muscley men appear bearing a load of party supplies. Rose calls to her mother, but Mama isn't through talking, so the youngster lets them in. Each time the doorbell ringsas guests, waiters serving hors d'oeuvres, and a magician arriveshe tries to get her mother's attention but is put off. When the band arrives, Rose is ready to jump into the action: she fills in for the absent drummer, playing a boogie-down beat that steals the show. Finally, Mama warns that she is about to hang up. Rose tells her visitors that they must go, and they quickly depart, taking the mess with them. None the wiser, Mama finds her daughter fast asleep in bed, and whispers, Good girl, Rose. The rhyming text never misses a beat. The watercolor illustrations feature slightly stylized characters: Rose and her mother have skinny legs and pointy feet, fuller-looking torsos, and hair that flies away at unexpected angles. A busy, colorful spread showing the party in full swing emphasizes the moment when Rose decides to join the fun. Children will appreciate the humor of this slightly over-the-top take on a familiar situation. Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal