THE MAGIC STRING

A magical string learns that transforming his shape doesn’t bring him happiness in this picture-book debut from humorist and photographer Junior.

String can magically “transform himself into anything he could imagine.” However, he has trouble choosing a new form, so he sets off on a journey. First, he visits an ice cream store, where he becomes an impressive scooping machine. But although the “ice-creams” at the store are thrilled, String realizes that shape doesn’t make him happy. Neither does becoming a complex firetruck at a fire station. At the circus, he finds that tightrope walkers don’t need a scooping machine or a truck, but they do need a string. Soon, in his role as a tightrope, String realizes that he just needed to be himself to find joy. Junior creates a story that’s well suited to reading aloud by using fun wordplay describing String’s various shapes. Creative word choices (syrup-slinging, resilient) may also expand the vocabularies of newly independent readers. Junior’s humorous tone shines throughout, complimented by Lombardo’s candy-bright, soft-edged illustrations: String’s frayed end makes for an expressive hairstyle, and his expressions—from good cheer to droopy disappointment—radiate emotion. Kids may question why the talking ice cream wants to be scooped and eaten, however. Human characters are portrayed with a variety of skin tones.

An enjoyably silly adventure of self-discovery.