Our BLG book this week was Gus Gordon‘s Herman and Rosie. Absolutely charming, a story of friendship, of following your passion and of celebrating the busy rhythms of a big city.

Pancakes. Jacques Cousteau. Jazz tunes. The joy and the solitude of New York city. Finding someone who gets you and shares your quirky tastes. It all comes together in this delightful story.

For some specifics of what was wonderful and some things that happen, read these amazing student reviews!

Student reviewers respond:

Kelvin rates this book 5/5 and writes: I like the beginning because Herman was creative. He played cool music. I didn’t like the ending. It was too emotional. It looked like Herman was about to kiss Rosie. This made me feel uncomfortable. I am a kid. I don’t like a love story. 

Steven rates this book 5/5 and writes: In the book Herman and Rosie, I connected to their music. I thought the pictures were interesting. It was so cool that both Herman and Rosie liked hot dogs. 

Grace rates this book 5/5 and writes: I noticed that they both watched the same TV show. Rosie got kicked out of the jazz club. Herman and Rosie met on top of a roof. I also like pancakes. Wait, I love pancakes like Rosie. I think that later on Herman and Rosie will make their own jazz club. There is cool and unique pictures.

Shereese rates this book 5/5 and writes: My favourite part is when they met. I like the pictures because it looks like they are treasure maps. They have things in common like watching the same TV show. They have a happy ending because they play in a band. 

Soleen rates this book 5/5 and writes: I like the part when it was musical. I connect to another book with a Rosie in it. They are meant to be friends. I like the pictures because I like how it is ripped. I think they they are going to find a band and let other people come and join the band. That would be a happy ending.

Heman rates this book 4/5 and writes: My favourite part is when they met on the roof. I noticed that Rosie and Herman do the same things. Herman and Rosie both lost their jobs. Rosie and Herman both like music. Rosie and Herman were meant to be together. The illustrations were interesting. There was a happy ending because they aren’t lonely anymore.

Ava rates this book 5/5 and writes: My favourite part of the story is about the jazz because a lot of picture books aren’t about groovy jazz tunes. It goes sad and happy and sad and happy and sad and ends with a happy ending because they got to be together as friends. The met on the roof. Rosie hums to the tune of the oboe. Herman plays the oboe in the jazz band. 

Joeli rates this book 4/5 and writes: If Herman likes music, why he did not get a job on the music club? Why is it an animal story? How can Rosie jump that far on top of the building? She might fall! I think it is a friendship story. They both like music. 

Andrew rates this book 4/5 and writes: I liked the pictures because it looks handmade. I noticed Herman and Rosie met on the roof. I connected to the roof because I walked 1 000 steps up the Temple of China. I noticed they both lost their jobs. It was a sad but happy ending. To the author/illustrator: I loved your book! I loved the pictures. I totally think Herman and Rosie are better together. 

Vicky rates this book 5/5 and writes: Herman and Rosie are meant to be together because of some of the things they both liked. Herman lost his job because he didn’t sell that much stuff where he worked. Rosie lost her job because there wasn’t anybody watching. At first the beginning was sad. At the end it was happy. They were playing music together. 

Kassidy rates this book 4/5 and writes: I think that Rosie and Herman should be together. They both do music and the girl is a singer and the boy does the oboe. I like to sing on Thursdays in the choir. They both walk all over the place and they both watch the same movies. At the end it was so a happy ending for me. For me and them. I like the book because it is all about love and friendship. I like the ending because they both do a band together and that is the best part for me. I think they both should be together. I think that they are both in love.