An intriguing, refreshingly original Yuletide tale.
A beloved, witchlike figure from Italian Christmas folklore pens a letter to children.
Befana has taken on a variety of roles, from searching for the Christ Child to giving gifts on the Epiphany. Here, she writes a missive to children, preparing them for her visit on the eve of January 6, a night that “hangs motionless between the final sigh of the holidays and the return to daily life.” She’s frank: “I am both benevolent and fearsome.” In a withering voice, she makes clear that she has “nothing to do with that clumsy oaf dressed in red with his herd of reindeer.” She implores readers to “examine [their] conscience,” and she adopts a schoolmarmish voice, directing them to hang their stockings properly; good children will receive sweets, while naughty ones will find coal in their stockings. Befana dishes secrets, too, like how she becomes invisible after sipping “a soup of mandrake, limpets, and giant salamanders.” Most importantly, though, she explains that with her annual visit, she brings the gift of spring and new beginnings—“gifts that are not measured in money, to which humans are attached like leeches.” Translated from Italian, Cuoghi’s poetically pleasurable narrative can be verbose, but Beretta’s shimmering gouache images surround those words with a charming, vintage cinematic feel. Four delightful pages of backmatter delve into Befana lore and other winter-witch traditions. Befana is pink-skinned; background characters are diverse.
An intriguing, refreshingly original Yuletide tale. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781778401466
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
Thoughtful and joyful.
A child of Vietnamese descent fantasizes about the perfect outfit for Tết.
One night, Mai dreams about being a big “STAAAAAAR” and fielding questions on the red carpet. Mai’s literal dream dress is a sparkly silver ballroom gown with a sweetheart cut. After waking up, the child is eager to tell Ba all about it, but first it’s time to get ready. It’s the first day of Tết, or Lunar New Year, and the family plans to celebrate at Mai’s grandmother’s house. Though Mai loves visiting Bà Nội, the child balks at donning the áo dài, a Vietnamese outfit consisting of a tunic worn over trousers. “Stars wear dresses and gowns,” Mai tells Ba. But Ba shows Mai the family photo album, explaining that Bà Nội had her own sewing school in Vietnam and that her students lovingly dubbed her the “Queen of Áo Dài.” To keep their traditions alive when the family emigrated, Bà Nội continued to make áo dài for her loved ones, and the children learned to sew them as an expression of love. Finally, with a newfound appreciation for the garment, Mai greets Bà Nội with a hug, clad in a customized áo dài made by Ba. Told entirely through naturally expressed and well-paced dialogue and accompanied by vividly textured illustrations, this is a loving tale of a family finding a creative way to reshape a beloved tradition.
Thoughtful and joyful. (glossary, “let’s design our own áo dài” activity) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781665917346
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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