THE MAN WHO KEPT HIS HEART IN A BUCKET

In a literary fable with a pleasing folkloric lilt, a respected YA novelist tells an inviting story about love.

Because it was once broken, Jack keeps his heart safe in a bucket; unfortunately, that leaves him unresponsive to joys like music or a baby's charms. His salvation comes in the form of a golden carp, transformed into a maiden who steals the heart but promises to return it when he can answer her teasing riddle. Having lost his heart, Jack finds the joys he's been missing, with each happy discovery providing a clue to the riddle until— with an exchange of hearts—a wedding is celebrated. Adroitly, Levitin weaves an intriguing pattern, her playful, economical language and precisely chosen details all pointing toward the happy resolution.

Pinkney's dappled, impressionistic watercolors depict an idyllic old-time world, his lively characterizations reinforcing the sense of a companionable, close-knit community.