  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 09/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2—A young boy and his family embark on a day trip to a history museum. As they walk there, they encounter a homeless man creating origami birds that he advertises as magical. The family purchases one for the boy and he enthusiastically launches it into the air repeatedly, even throughout the museum, landing himself in a few sticky situations. When another child catches the rogue bird, the boy is taken aback and angrily snatches the bird away, hurting the feelings of the helpful youngster. As the story progresses, the boy learns about the power of forgiveness, helpfulness, and kindness and a beautiful friendship between families blossoms. This wordless picture book from Caldecott winner Cordell brilliantly tells the story of a regular outing. The family dynamics, as displayed through the body language and facial expressions of the characters, are touching and authentic. The scenario is engrossing and the interactions between characters evoke emotion. The pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations are compelling and thought-provoking, telling the story in its entirety yet allowing readers plenty of room for their own predictions and interpretations. VERDICT A substantial picture book about the very best kind of magic. A first purchase.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/01/2019 *Starred Review* A family of four visits a local natural history museum and their lives are enriched in ways they never could have anticipated in this mostly wordless story. Before arriving at the museum, a boy buys a toy from a street vendor whose sign advertises, simply, “Magic.” The flying birdlike toy is so much fun the child runs from room to room inside the building, flying and catching it, much to his parents’ growing dismay. At one point, another boy catches the toy; its original owner immediately and rudely rips it from his hand. The child who caught it belongs to another family of four, but they have brown skin and the mother and daughter wear hijabs. After a stern talking-to by his father, the toy’s owner feels bad about his behavior—clearly apparent from his facial expressions. How he ultimately loses his flying toy and his family—temporarily—in the vast building and the way in which Caldecott medalist Cordell (Wolf in the Snow, 2017) concludes his wordless tale are most satisfactory. Through his loose illustration style, done in pen and ink with watercolor, he uses various perspectives to tell this charming tale of kindness and friendship. Is it coincidence, or is it “Magic”? - Copyright 2019 Booklist. Loading...
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