Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Jefferson Public Library | P COELHO, J. | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Willamina Public Library | JP COELHO | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Centers the topic of divorce in a quiet but accessible way; a richly textured world full of books, imagination and love; a celebration of libraries; includes a book within a book.Luna's parents live apart, but she loves library day: that's the day she spends with her dad. Exploring the shelves, they find magic, mystery and history, but the best is a book that seems to have been written just for them. An inspiring story of a family broken and made new...
Author Notes
Joseph Coelho is a poet, author, and playwright based in the UK; he cofounded the Word Pepper Theatre Company. Fiona Lumbers
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-For spunky, curly haired, biracial Luna, library day is the long-awaited special time she spends with her father. After her mom drops her off at the library, Luna and her dad spend time picking out books and reading some of them. A fairy tale that Luna picks out, "The Troll King and the Mermaid Queen," is actually a six-page insert within the main book and tells the story of Luna and her parents' relationship: her dad is the Troll King and her mom is the Mermaid Queen who fight and separate but nevertheless remain steadfast in their love for their daughter. After checking out all the books, Luna returns home where she rereads the library books and fondly thinks about her special day. Lumbers's cartoonish illustrations pop with joyful colors but still capture touching moments such as Luna sadly clutching a book of magic tricks because "Dad knows how to disappear. Luna wants to learn to bring him back" or Luna and her dad in a tender embrace after reading the emotional fairy tale. VERDICT A celebration of libraries, families, and a powerful comforting statement of abiding parental love in one neat package. Best shared one-on-one.-Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
A delightful ode to the power of books and libraries as well as a reassuring portrayal of separated parents. With telling, loosely rendered illustrations and poetic text, this charming picture book culminates with another book nestled inside: this story, about a separated Troll King and Mermaid Queen and their love for their daughter, especially resonates with the (biracial) girl in the book, listening on Dad's lap. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
What makes library day so special for Luna?It's because her dad is waiting for her there, and together they choose all kinds of books, each one emblematic of a connection between them (bugsshe loves them, he hates them; magiche "knows how to disappear" while "Luna wants to learn how to bring him back"; his Caribbean island home). Together Luna and her dad read The Troll King and the Mermaid Queen, which is a six-page rhymed story inset inside the book that is clearly a metaphor for Luna's family history. When it's time to leave, Luna checks out Unexplained Mysteries, Mini Monsters, Magic Mayhem, and Memories of the Imagined Island as well as the inset book. Now she has a book bag full of memories. Luna's parents are clearly separated or divorced, and library day is her time with Dad. Biracial Luna has light-brown skin and curly auburn hair, her dad is black with an Afro, and her mom is white and blonde. Colorful, winsome illustrations depict Luna with dots for eyes and a curve for her mouth. This simple story of often familiar circumstances has many plusesseemingly amicable separated parents who love their daughter, the story within a story, a plug for libraries (there's even a self-checkout) and readingall of which generate an upbeat feeling. Reassuring, appealing, and endearing, especially for children in similar situations. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Mixed-race child Luna lives with Mom, but every week she takes her backpack, library books, and card to the library where she spends time with Dad. Together, they choose new books: big books about unexplained mysteries, little books about bugs, tales of magic and history, and a fairy tale that they read together in a comfy chair. When it's time to leave, Luna checks out her own books and returns home with a bag full of books and memories. Coelho's spare text celebrates the joys of reading and family. Luna never laments that Dad lives elsewhere; instead, she enjoys the quality time the two spend. Lumbers' upbeat watercolor-and-ink illustrations feature many fanciful details, including bugs crawling out of volumes, mummies hidden between tomes, and magical paraphernalia exploding from books. Also included is an inset of a title Luna and Dad read together, The Troll King and the Mermaid Queen, a story that parallels Luna's life. This makes a good read-aloud choice, especially for book-themed story hours.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2018 Booklist