Abstract
Reviewed by: Probably a Narwhal by Shelley Moore Thomas Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Thomas, Shelley Moore Probably a Narwhal; illus. by Jenn Harney. Boyds Mills, 2020 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781629795812 $17.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-7 yrs Our bespectacled young heroine would like you to know that the mess in the kitchen is not at all her doing, but rather a narwhal's—the creatures do love to make pie, after all. They also love rainbows, so the rainbow painted on the wall is definitely a narwhal's doing, as is the broken lamp, the knocked-over furniture, and the splattered curtains. She makes all of these pronouncements as a narwhal listens, utterly aghast at the accusations, and it is further perplexed by the little girl's insistence that a narwhal is a "rainbow-painting, elephant-sized, purple polka-dotted, flying pie maker." The ending is a twist on a twist and a double subversion of expectations, giving the already absurd story more gleeful goofiness. The digital illustrations are carefully chaotic, with the mess in question fully taking up the background in subdued tones of gold and ochre, leaving the poppy color and main focus to rest on the sassy, know-it-all girl and the oversized, unimpressed narwhal. This would make a great double act with DeStefano's similarly themed The Unicorn Came to Dinner (BCCB 7/20), and the back and forth dialogue between girl and narwhal could make for some excellent readers theater, particularly if it is followed up with some delicious pie. [End Page 53] Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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