NATALIE AND NAUGHTILY

Twin girls as disparate in disposition as their names live atop their family’s grandiose department store. Traditionally barred from the store on sunny days, the duo is ecstatic when they awake to rainy weather. Conscious of their parents’ dictate not to play in the store, they decide to “help” instead. Kirsch’s insider perspective—he worked at a renowned department store—adds authenticity to the tale, as the girls lead readers on a comical romp through the prestigious, stuffy establishment. From the ladies donning designer dresses on the second floor to the robotic, gadget-filled fifth floor, each child demonstrates her unique take on what it means to help, with hilarious and chaotic results. The intricate, jam-packed watercolor-and-colored pencil illustrations are the highlight of this work. Meticulously detailed, each page is a child’s wonderland of discovery; repeated examinations are bound to uncover some new delight. A witty and fanciful exploration of a timeless childhood fantasy. (Picture book. 5-7)