The menagerie of animals that comprise the cast of characters for this book include a fox, a chicken, a rooster, a rabbit, and a bear. Bidding a fond farewell to their friends, fox and chicken, the other animals row across the water in a small boat and end up capsized on a strange island. The rooster becomes entranced with what appears to be a glowing orb, and runs off with it in a nefarious way. It turns out that the orb is not just an unusual sphere, and the entire gang enjoys a happily ever after ending. The illustrations are sure to charm a wide range of readers because they create a characterization that is equally silly and sly. The Treasure Thief by Beatrice Rodriguez. New Zealand: Gecko Press, 2011. [9781877467844]
I did not understand this story at all, even after multiple readings, so I rely on the interpretation provided by the White Ravens 2014 catalog. This book is a retelling of a well-known fairy tale by Charles Perrault called "Little Thumb," which is "laid out in a narrow horizontal format." The catalog justifies its inclusion by noting that "Roman-born illustrator Giovanna Ranaldi captures the gloomy, violent mood of Perrault's tale well by keeping to a black, white, and grey palette and adding occasional expressive red accents. The drastically simplified and abstracted pictures do not recount the plot in a traditional way, but focus instead on symbolising key moments and motifs in a more figurative way. This is a fascinating picture book for all ages." Pulgarcito [Little Thumb] by Charles Perrault and Giovanna Ranaldi. Spain: Milimbo, 2013. [9788494021916]
Multiple readings of this story may be required to get a deeper understanding of its meaning. The artwork contains a lot of beautiful details, but upon first review, the basic plot will be uncovered: a unicycle-riding witch doesn't fit in with her flock of broom-flying friends, and is banished from the group after being distracted by a small bird in her path. The two develop an unlikely friendship, and are assisted by a lonely scarecrow who facilitates an astonishing ending. The book creator's website says that he is currently "obsessed with three concepts: the ambiguous, the improbable, and the uncertain." This book addresses all three of those ideas. La Bruja y El Espantapajaros [The Witch and the Scarecrow] by Gabriel Pacheco. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2001. [9786071606785]
