MICHAEL AND HANNAH AND THE MAGIC MONEY TREE

Free money sends a group of children on a shopping spree in Delauney’s picture book.

Young siblings Michael and Hannah are excited about the newest spring fair attraction: a magic money tree that only eight children may enjoy per day. After they arrive with their six friends, they immediately go to a striped tent. Amazed by the tree inside, the kids listen eagerly to the tall ringmaster who explains the rules of spending free money on toys. However, not every child is happy with the game’s initial outcome. The children’s adventure is straightforwardly told in rhyming verse. Civati’s cartoon illustrations capture their emotions with boldly expressive eyes; the diverse characters have an array of skin tones. The stated lesson is that “work is a great way to help make money fair for everyone who wishes to earn his or her share.” What happens in the book doesn’t portray that, however; some children are left without items to buy not because they don’t have money from the tree, but because others had already bought everything with theirs. It’s unclear how working for the money remedies this issue. That said, the story does stress the value of a good work ethic and choices that benefit everyone.

A well-illustrated story of a new attraction at the spring fair, hampered by a moral that could use more explanation.