Mathilda and the Orange Balloon

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY FEB 8, 2010

Corace s (Little Oink) illustrations are the principal charm of this quirky story about a thought experiment done by a flock of sheep. Orange balloon... says Mathilda, after one floats over her pasture. That s me! Full of joy at the magnificent sight she s just seen, she works to convince her fellow sheep that there s no reason she can t, in fact, be an orange balloon. The pleasures of Corace s work include the authoritative black outlines of the sheep, their creamy fleece and smashed-flat faces, and Mathilda s morphing into a tiger, falling leaf, and fiery sun, all of which embody orange to the sheep. The visual and emotional apex comes as Mathilda envisions herself as a soaring balloon, orange, puffy, and most of all happy. Her realization frees the rest of the flock: Then the sheep realized anything was possible. One envisions himself a sailor on a boat, another a yellow school bus, and a third a honey bee. De S ve s (The Duchess of Whimsy) reasoning may elude very young readers, but the sounds and feelings of the words will not, and Corace s vignettes provide satisfying clarity. Ages 3 6.