Kirkus Reviews - (Our Verdict - GET IT!) Ordinary activities become playful adventures for a young girl and her crew of animal companions in Gillespie’s picture book. Floo Flocky Doo (short for Florence Flockhart Doo-Faye) is an eccentric youngster with a supportive Mommy Doo and a friendly hummingbird pal named Peanut. All seems fine, at first, when Floo rescues a baby squirrel and takes him in as a pet, but mild chaos ensues when she secretly brings the animal along on errands with her mother. The story unfolds in upbeat rhymes, creating an energetic rhythm that’s well suited to read-aloud settings. Floo’s cheerful catchphrase (“Hootie Hoo, Hootie Hoo”) is charming and easily repeatable, creating opportunities for interactive storytelling and reader engagement. Rooney’s cartoon illustrations are appealing and colorful, with a satisfying mix of full-page spreads and smaller-framed scenes that create action-packed montages. The variety keeps the story visually dynamic while also supporting the lively narrative pace. Floo’s misadventures result in little more than a disapproving look from Mommy Doo, so it’s evident the book isn’t meant to emphasize a lesson about mischief. Instead, it prioritizes Floo’s kindness toward animals and her zest for life to offer a quieter takeaway. A lively, rhyming picture book with an energetic protagonist and bright images.

Young readers are in for an entertaining ride in Gillespie’s picture book debut, as Florence Flockhart Doo-Faye—nicknamed Floo by her friends—embarks on a wild adventure with Lou, her pet squirrel. Just after breakfast one morning, Floo’s hummingbird pal Peanut tips her off to a mystery in the yard. Singing her darling refrain, “Hootie Hoo, Hootie Hoo,” Floo follows Peanut out the front door, where she discovers a tiny baby squirrel hidden in the leaves beneath a tree. Deciding the squirrel’s nest is too high to reach, Floo promptly takes the creature under her wing, building it a cozy home inside her shoe—and naming it Lucky Lou. That sweet rescue marks the start of a beautiful friendship. As Lou grows, he, Peanut, and Floo share the best of times. They’re so inseparable that when her mother asks her to join a trip to the local food market for dinner supplies, Floo insists Lou must come along—concealed in her hood, where she admonishes him to “hide and be quiet until I find you.” Of course, things don’t go quite as Floo expects, especially when her epic sneeze startles Lou and sends him flying into Miss Nellie Fay’s carefully coiffed wig. Chaos ensues, Floo and Peanut mount a heroic chase, and readers quickly learn why some pets—even our absolute favorites—can’t accompany us everywhere. Ronnie Rooney depicts the hilarity of Floo chasing Lou through stacks of groceries and fresh produce stands with lively, eye-catching illustrations that kids will relish: food flies, Nellie Fay’s wig hitches a ride on Lou’s tail, and Lou’s penchant for coating himself in blueberry jelly will elicit plenty of belly laughs. Luckily, everything—even Nellie Fay’s elusive hairpiece—is restored by the book’s end. This delightful rhyming adventure is one kids won’t want to miss. Takeaway: Delightful hijinks of a young girl and her charming pet squirrel. Production grades Cover: A- Design and typography: A Illustrations: A Editing: A Marketing copy: A