THE GREAT ESCAPE

Imaginative play has never been so out of this world.

Evie, a precocious girl outfitted in a purple wizard’s cap and cape, “believe[s] in all things magic.” With her wand and a little imagination, she can do anything—except manage her rambunctious siblings, Wolfie, Bunnie, and Teddy, so named for the animal costumes they wear. Yearning for some space and quiet, she goes out into the snow but is soon followed by her kin. Looking for an escape, she picks up her wand and transports herself and her siblings to a mesmerizing abyss filled with sea creatures set against colorful textured galaxies of light. Here, the perspective shifts from graphic-style panels to breathtaking upside-down spreads, requiring readers to turn the book around to continue their adventures. After a suspenseful yet ultimately uplifting encounter with a whale and her calf, they all return to their world grateful for each other and their company. Marcero takes full advantage of the picture-book format as she tells the story of the sometimes contentious yet ultimately strong bonds between siblings. Her use of actual images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, along with watercolors and ink, finished digitally, creates an awe-inspiring world both cosmic and aquatic. Lilting prose and detailed, luminous art make for an adventure readers will eagerly dive into again and again. Evie is light-skinned; her siblings vary in skin tone.

A glorious look at the often-frustrating nature of family dynamics—and the power of magic.