  | Puppets of Spelhorst Author: DiCamillo, Kate | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Shut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends--a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl--bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark.
| Illustrator: | Morstad, Julie |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.10 Points: 2.0 Quiz: 520937 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (09/01/23)
School Library Journal (+) (11/24/23)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/11/23)
The Hornbook (+) (00/09/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 08/08/2023 *Starred Review* What treasure box does DiCamillo have in store for young readers this time? One that contains five beautifully crafted puppets—a girl with violet eyes and a green cloak, a boy with a bow and arrows, a pompous king, a wise owl with real feathers, and a wolf with teeth that she delights in reminding everyone are “well and truly sharp”—oh, and a story or two. Upon the death of an old sea captain, Captain Spelhorst, his landlady sells his trunk of puppets—a curious thing for a childless old man to possess, to be sure—to the rag-and-bone man, who in turn sells it to a gentleman seeking a gift for his two nieces. The puppets have been charting their journey carefully, speculating what might be in store for them, knowing only that they are destined to be in a story together; the owner of the toy shop where they once lived told them so. Is it destiny, then, when the young new puppet owners decide to perform a play with their new toys? And, indeed, the play’s the thing that pulls the seemingly disparate threads of the story into a marvelously constructed whole. DiCamillo’s storytelling is as effortless as always, and Morstad’s frequent pencil illustrations elevate it further. This first of the Norendy Tales chapter-book series is guaranteed to enchant young readers.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This collaboration by two masters of their craft—a Newbery Medalist and a Governor General’s Literary Award finalist—will prove irresistible. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 11/24/2023 Gr 2–5—Five puppets are displayed in a shop window—a king, wolf, girl, boy, and an owl—each with their own dream. The king just wants an opportunity to rule like kings do. The wolf has the fiercest and sharpest of teeth. The girl wishes to see more of the world. The boy, equipped with his bow and arrows, feels destined to do great things. And the owl, who is made of real feathers, dreams of flying. The puppets sit and wait for a story to begin, though as toys, they have very little agency in making those dreams come true. One day, an old sea captain takes the puppets home in a trunk. After writing for a long time, the sea captain cries himself to sleep and doesn't wake up in the morning. As the puppets find their way to a new home, a new story begins. The story unfolds, and through ups and downs, the one thing that's constant is that the puppets have one another. No matter what happens, their story is a shared one. This is the first title in the "Norendy Tales" trilogy from beloved author DiCamillo. The text is accompanied by delightful digitally rendered black-and-white pencil drawings by the wonderful Morstad. The illustrations bring the puppets to life and add to the magic and whimsy of the tale. With themes of love and loss, this chapter book reminds us there is light to be found in every darkness. VERDICT An enchanting and original fairy tale that will delight both young and old.—Elizabeth Blake - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
