  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 08/01/2017 DiCamillo and Kim combine their considerable talents in this almost wordless picture book that speaks to a universal longing: the hope that we are not alone. When the story begins, the girl with the bobbed hair is alone, with only the sound of her repeated sung note, “la,” to keep her company. Perhaps following a falling leaf outside and into the woods will bring her in contact with another? But even a shouted “la, la, la” doesn’t elicit companionship. Discouraged but not done, she continues into the night, under the stars, where she finds a ladder to climb—almost to the moon. It’s not until she’s back on the ground, almost ready to quit that a “la” answers her own, and the smiling presence of the moon shines its way into her existence. Kim’s gouache-and-acrylic artwork, graphically strong and full of heart, illuminates DiCamillo’s concept. Adults could almost use this as a flip-book with children, so full of movement are the pictures. But the best use will be as a springboard for discussion about loneliness, life, and love. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: DiCamillo is among kid lit’s top names. Everyone will need to have this, if not multiple copies of it. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. School Library Journal - 09/01/2017 PreS-Gr 2—A small girl, all alone, sends forth a tentative "la" but receives no reply. Venturing outside, she follows orange leaves past trees and pond and peers through tall grasses. No animals. No people. Just her repetitive, increasingly urgent variations of "La? Laaaa!" Day turns to purple night with shimmering starlight. Even climbing a ladder to the moon fails to garner a response. Dejected, she falls asleep and wakens to a reply at last. Golden moon knows LA! LA! too. Although DiCamillo provided the story concept, its development and execution rest squarely with artist Kim. Her cinematic watercolor and ink illustrations convey the shifting emotions of the main character, and her nighttime scenes are particularly luminous. This low-key, visually striking exploration of loneliness and friendship may resonate with adults and some introspective children, but broad appeal seems unlikely. Educators could use it as a writing prompt or discussion starter or for encouraging children to express their feelings in some kind of visual medium—painting, collage, clay work. Overall, Kim has taken DiCamillo's "small, tentative song" and turned it into a chorale. VERDICT With DiCamillo's popularity and publisher plans for an extensive marketing campaign, this title is likely to be in demand.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
 |