I'M OGRE IT

You’re never too old to be “ogre” having some fun.

Izzie’s amazement that older brother Ollie threw away most of his toys is quickly diverted upon meeting Tim, a lumbering, green-skinned ogre who has recently moved into the neighborhood—specifically, into a previously unnoticed cave in Izzie’s backyard. Unperturbed by this sudden change in local real estate, Izzie brings Tim to meet Ollie, who has become so consumed with a new video game that he considers his toys babyish. Engrossed in the game, Ollie doesn’t notice for several hours that Tim and Izzie took him up on his offer to take his old stuff and have stripped his room bare. Once he emerges, Ollie follows a piece of yarn through the house and into the yard to find that Izzie and Tim have, using Ollie’s “baby” toys, built a video game–like world that requires Ollie’s imagination to play. The game rekindles his love of imaginative play, and Ollie is more than willing to join Izzie and Tim on future adventures. The story is gorgeously captured in digital illustrations dominated by shades of green, but the message may resonate more with caregivers than with the intended audience. That said, young readers who enjoy a fast-paced tale or are fantasy fans will appreciate the story. Izzie and Ollie have brown skin and dark hair.

It’s D&D: delightful and dear.