LUCY DOVE

by Janice Del Negro ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1998

In an original story with Celtic roots, a superstitious laird believes that ""a pair of trousers sewn by the light of the full moon in the graveyard of old St. Andrew's church"" will bring him luck. He offers a sackful of gold to the one who sews the trousers. Despite the rumors that St. Andrew's is haunted by a fearsome beast, and despite the fact that those who have gone after the beast have never returned, Lucy Dove--a seamstress with her eyes on a comfortable retirement, and one cool customer--answers the laird's challenge. She heads for the churchyard during ""the twilight space between sunset and moonrise,"" and sits down to sew. When the monster--all pointed teeth, blazing eyes, and ropey neck--rises from the grave beside her, Lucy keeps right on sewing, commenting that he must be ""the wee bogle"" featured in children's bedtime stories. Lucy's cheek buys her just enough time to finish the trousers and hightail it to the laird to collect her reward, with the furious bogle in hot pursuit. Told in lilting, colorful language, Del Negro presents a woman with mettle enough for beasts mythical and real, while Gore's sweeping acrylic illustrations, overlaid with a hatching of fine white lines, provide a properly spooky setting of twisting branches, cracked gravestones, and looming ravens.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1998

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 32

Publisher: DK Ink

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1998

Categories: CHILDREN'S