Smack Dab in the Middle

BOOKPAGE REVIEW BY ALICE CARY Poor Rosie Roselli. She's a shining young star at her Catholic school-as Sister Celestia can attest-but no one at home has time to notice her accomplishments. That's because she's Smack Dab in the Middle of herlarge Italian family, which includes grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, a sister, a brother and 12 cousins.They're all busy taking care of babies or responding to the older kids' demands and schedules.In this classic tale of the overlooked middle child, Rosie comes home from school toting a gold star for her good counting work and a bright red horn for her musical ability, but day after day, everyone's too busy to notice. Author-illustrator Anita Riggio writes of the middle child's plight from her own experience, explaining, "Rosie Roselli really needed a hug. She needed a hug right this minute, but her mother's arms were full of Rosie's sister. Rosie Roselli couldn't wait." After several days of this type of treatment, Rosie gives up and decides to do what any self-respecting "feeling neglected" child might-run away. Of course, Rosie's story has a happy ending, and she ends up smack dab in the middle of a huge family hug.Riggio's exuberant art has a 1950s retro feel, showing teenage girls in poodle skirts, fathers in ties, Rosie with saddle shoes and kids in Mickey Mouse Club attire. Her colorful, near silhouette-style figures are done in India ink, gouache, cut paper, stamps and, last but not least, with the help of a computer. Rosie, whoremains in white amidst her "colorful" family, always stands apart, the center of the book. Sister Celestia-a religious figure rarely seen nowadays in young children's books, excepting Madeleine-brings to mind the effervescent Singing Nun. She's a ball of energy, realizing that Rosie is a star. When she gives her students an assignment to draw a family portrait, she saves the day for our heroine.Smack Dab in the Middle is a book to which many children will relate, because, no matter how many or how few siblings a family contains, parents are always too busy at certain moments to lavish their kids with attention. So roll on, Rosie! The energy of this little twirling character will never be lost, even in a crowd.

Recently the book, Smack Dab In The Middle by Anita Riggio came to my attention. As a retired pedagogue its appeal was instantaneous. Every child or adult can sometime relate to feeling underappreciated. When one is "caught" in the middle of a large family it is very easy to be "lost in the shuffle".The soothing, sagely advice and shared experiences of this book have meaning at any age. The illustrations are quirky and heartwarming.As an adult it is fun to be able to read a children's book, and come away smiling and feeling good about life. Author/illustrator Riggio obviously has taken the love of her family and creatively translated it into this wonderful story.Thanks for the experience!!!!!

Rosie is a true heroine--full of pluck and heart. This is a terrifically reassuring story for those "nobody loves me" days that all children experience at some point. The quirky artwork is inovative and fun--Riggio's characters each have their own unique personality, but Rosie will steal the show and your heart as well. Let's hope there will be more Rosie books on the way!