Nosy Rosie by Holly Keller

32 p., Greenwillow, 2006. Obnoxious nicknames can be hurtful, even when they're not meant maliciously. Rose can find anything anyone has lost because of her keen sense of smell. One day, someone calls her "Nosy Rosie", and the name sticks. Rose tells people not to call her that, but they don't listen. She refuses to help them find things, saying intelligently, "'I don't hear you because that's not my name.'" The other kids reject her. She goes off for a walk in the woods, enjoying the smells she finds there. Suddenly, she smells baby powder and soap - the smells of baby Harry. She finds Harry trapped under a thorny bush, and extricates him. Meanwhile, Mama discovers that Harry is missing, and no one else can find him. When Rose returns with Harry a few minutes later, Mama is very happy, and the other kids tell her she's awesome, amazing, and incredible. Rose replies, "'Thank you ... but I'm just Rose, and that's the only name I want.'" From then on, everyone always calls her Rose. Illustrated with endearing watercolors, this story offers Rose as a model of trusting your own talents even when people tease you about them, and asserting yourself appropriately. Ages 4-7

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