School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5 In this sequel to If You Say So, Claude (Viking, 1980; o.p.), Shirley and Claude continue to enjoy their new-found peace in the cabin in the great state of Texas. When Shirley, who has never been a very good cook, tries her hand at baking an apple pie, the result is a surprise for her and for readers. The cartoon-like illustrations are adequate and reinforce the text, but are not as appealing as those in the first title. At times the text is forced, but the exaggerated humor will still tickle readers' funny bones. Reminicent of the ``McBroom'' series (Little) by Sid Fleischman, this is corny, silly, but, oh what fun. Orvella Fields, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Claude and Shirley, of If You Say So, Claude, return with three rollicking adventures; this time, Shirley's dreadful apple pies are instrumental in capturing a series of Texas desperadoes. A fake minister, with kidnapped Tom in tow, is routed when the first pie explodes. Claude still yearns for a regular, spicy, oozy pie, so Shirley tries again, just in time to astonish a bank robber with its acidity. As she attempts a third pie, appleless, Tom bakes a delicious pie and so wins Claude's permission to stay. The pungent tongue-in-cheek dialogue is perfectly complemented by Pearson's slapstick illustrations, where an attendant cat and armadillo add spice to the mayhem. New readers should giggle their way merrily through this one. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. In this sequel to If You Say So, Claude (Booklist 77:118 S 15 80), that Texas couple tall, lanky Shirley and paunchy, gray-bearded Claude is living in an isolated cabin in the hills. They seem to have found peace and quiet, but things just keep happening. First a devious preacher, then a couple of bank robbers, and finally a few soldiers trying to go AWOL from the cavalry interrupt their solitude. All of them meet their downfall after devouring some of Shirley's inedible apple pies, but happily, Shirley gains a family in the process. Nixon's outlandish yarn meets its match in Pearson's zesty pictures. The illustrator is a master at packing as much humor as possible into her art, and this is no exception. Her dynamic watercolors jump with flying food, falling moose heads, ferocious criminals, and an armadillo that has its nose in everything. A slam-bang good time. IC. Frontier and pioneer life Fiction [CIP] 86-5465
