CECELIA TAKES FLIGHT FROM THE DRAWING BOARD TO THE SKY

Cecelia uses her art skills to make her dream of owning a model airplane come true.

Brown-skinned, curly-haired Cecelia dreams of owning a Hercules model airplane just like the one her “Mommy flies on super important missions.” Her piggy bank only contains a fraction of the toy’s $40 price tag, so Cecelia makes a plan. Her classmate Sammi Sylvester once sold cupcakes to raise money, so she decides to sell art, complete with a sales jingle. “Artwork for sale from me to you / Helps my special dream come true.” With the help of her dad, Cecelia passes out flyers to all of her neighbors and sets up shop. She’s quite anxious to begin with, but her friends buy numerous pieces. She even receives a generous offer from Mr. Grizzle, a former pilot, for an extra-special drawing she did with her mom. Though she’s tempted, Cecelia refuses to part with it. Mr. Grizzle understands and finds a different way to make Cecelia’s treasured dream of a Hercules model a reality. This follow-up to Anne’s 2024 title, Cecelia Says No: When Friendship and Boundaries Collide, demonstrates fiscal problem-solving through a kid-friendly situation. This installment in the series demonstrates creativity and perseverance and even calls back to an earlier book in which Cecelia learned all about boundaries. Wathsala’s illustrations are reminiscent of Cecelia’s own drawings in their colorful and childlike style; they include a labeled diagram of a plane at the end.

A straightforward, involving picture book that encourages problem-solving.