My kindergarten students were under-whelmed. Maybe a 1st or 2nd grade class would have appreciated it more. I was not as happy with this book as with the first Bailey. I think there was a little too much grown-up humor in the speech bubbles. And even though I know that's what I initially appreciated about Bliss's first Bailey, there was something a little "too-too" about it in the museum book. I liked this one even more than the first Bailey book, it was just really cute. Bailey's personality came across more in this one and the situations he got into seemed funnier to me. There were just so many opportunities to highlight how Bailey was different from the other children in the class in cute ways. I really liked when they learned about dream catchers and Bailey wondered if they could help him with his squirrel problem, as a dog companion myself, I know how much that rivalry can be worrisome to a pooch. And then little twist at the end made it super sweet. I do think there are a few missed opportunities in the books in the details. Like on the bus when the girl is reading some books and the titles are, "A Book," by Author, and, "Another Book," by Different Author. And there were some comics on the page before that just weren't cute. It might have been nice if the space was used to make a few jokes or just seemed more relevant. I did think it was cute that the security guard was reading a book called, "Guarding Stuff: Don't Touch." I know that when I was a kid I'd pour over every detail of beautiful books that I liked, so all of those little details shouldn't be throw-away moments. But my suggestions are a small thing, not to take away from the very large achievement that this lovely and very charming book is. It's definitely one of the first one's I grab as a gift for preschool or elementary school kids, it's just so cute and funny.
What do You think about Bailey At The Museum (2012)?
Bailey adds an element of fun to the museum field trip; a giggle a page;-)
—linsay32
Cute illustrations. I also liked how Bailey and the guard became buddies.
—Piyali
