Review 5 star

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​Don’t Drink the Pink by B.C.R. Fegan is a children’s book about the magic of a girl’s relationship with her grandfather, beautifully illustrated by Lenny Wen. The girl, Madeline, narrates the story of how her Grandfather Gilderberry, creates little potions in his workshop. She drinks a potion on every one of her birthdays for fourteen years. Each potion is a different color and causes something magical to happen to her for that birthday. Her grandfather always admonishes her not to choose the pink one. “Don’t drink the pink!” But when her grandfather dies, it’s the only potion left. What will happen when she drinks it?
 
This is a high-quality book. The combination of detail in the storytelling and illustrations in Don’t Drink the Pink is really exceptional and the concepts are presented in a sophisticated way. The colored potions are cued to an activity—such as controlling the weather or super-strength—and I felt there was an intuitive suitability between each color and the power it gave Madeline. And I was delighted by the honesty of B.C.R. Fegan’s writing that used the seemingly fantastical idea that a grandfather could give you special powers on your birthday to echo a child’s feelings accurately. Relationships with older relatives are unique in a child’s life and can be truly magical.  Throughout the book her grandfather is a touchstone for helping Madeline ground herself as she ages year by year and the potions she receives are in harmony with her personal development. The conclusion helps prepare children for the natural concept of a loved one’s passing as well, rounding out a great book I was delighted to read. 

​Review 5 star

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Goodnight, My Love! by Shelley Admont is a lovely picture book that encourages children to go to sleep at night. In it a father helps his small son, Alex. After drinking water and sending his father to get a particular toy, Alex says he isn’t sure what to dream about. Gently the father invents a dream the boy could have when asleep. The boy relaxes by imagining himself as a bird having adventures of flight over the ocean and scenic vistas on land. The father participates by describing himself as an older bird, the small bird’s companion. In the end, Alex is able to fall asleep while both his parents are pleased.
 
Goodnight, My Love! has a really sweet message and a gentle style. It certainly feels like something that could be read aloud to a kid who is actually in bed and having trouble sleeping. The cute illustrations capture the real home life of this boy, and the serene, uplifting invented world that the father describes for him as well. Shelley Admont does a great job of developing both the adult and the child so their points of view are equally sympathetic—Alex wants more attention and is uncertain about falling asleep, but his Dad knows they both need to rest. In the end, these differences result in a great bond between them and a shared memory as Alex is helped along the path of making his own dreams. Positive thinking for kids is incredibly important and something this book delivers excellently through creating wholesome, pleasant images.

Review 5 star

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Étoile by Richard Aab introduces us to a brightly glowing, optimistic little star who has just been created by Mother Universe. Madalyn McLeod’s shimmering, glowing illustrations are outstanding and bring to life this star’s journey through the huge cosmos of space in her hopes of getting to the center of Mother Universe. As little Etoile is watched from afar by her benevolent creator, she’s sure she knows what her own goals are—to become a Big Star, an advanced star, and to reach the center. Gradually, as little planets are drawn into her orbit and claim her as their star, her priorities start to change. Is it possible that she has become a Big Star without even knowing it?

Richard Aab has written a breathtaking little book that I fell in love with immediately. Accompanied by quiet streams of lavender, pink, and yellow in the lovely artwork, Etoile’s story is simple, beautiful and true. Etoile is a picture book that can double as a way to introduce kids to the structure of the solar system, while using the planet/sun relationship to celebrate motherhood and explain to kids how very valuable they are in the life of their parent. One of the strongest points is the similarity the parent-figure—Etoile—has to kids, making her an instant way to communicate. She spends the whole book striving to grow up and become a Big Star, just as kids eagerly set out on their journey of life, and her emotions aren’t so different from those of the little planets even though she seems so much bigger to them. An excellent storybook for bonding time, an enchanting tale of love and wisdom, and it’s just all around cute into the bargain.