February Reads Part 2

Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle (Juvenile Fiction)

Meet the Austins is a quiet read with the faintest of plots humming along in the background of wonderful descriptions, a strong sense of family and security, and characters I grew more and more fond of as the book progressed. Because there's not much story happening - with most of it focusing on whether Maggy will stay with the Austins or be adopted by her grandfather - I always closed the book wondering if I would come back to it. But L'Engle's strong descriptions of the family, and their home and routine, plus the delightful treat of visiting their grandfather on an island in the last pages of the book kept me coming back. Simple everyday activities in the late 1950s, such as preparing for an ice storm, battling the measles, and enjoying meals, music, and reading together were captivating and charming. If you're looking for a book to sweep you away with a strong story and lots of action, this will surely disappoint you. However, if you are looking for a book that creeps up on you like the tide and quietly consumes you with the ordinary pleasures of day-to-day life in a close-knit family during the 50s, then this is your kind of book.

Pretty Kitty by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis (picture book)

Can a grouchy old man find room in his heart for 10 displaced kitties who keep showing up on his doorstep? I won't give away the ending, but you will know how it ends when you get to the page where 10 kitties are sitting on the old man's mat, all with the most forlorn expressions on their faces. The illustrations are comical, the man is adorably cantankerous, and there's a surprisingly tender moment when the man is staring at the pictures above his fireplace (but I won't say anything more about that because I don't want to spoil it for you).

Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wall (picture book)

This picture book doesn't shy away from the sometimes unpleasant side of nature. A fox eats one of Sonya's chickens but her papa explains that the fox was trying to feed his family - "'what might seem unfair to you might make sense to a fox.'" I thought the illustrations were going to be my favorite thing about Sonya's Chickens, but even though they're vibrant and detailed, the honesty and deliverance of the message is my favorite thing.

Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl (picture book)

Wahl's illustrations have the power to transport you to a world where fairies exist. I love how each page has so many things to find and discover. Her attention to detail is incredible. The stone fairy is my favorite. Covered in moss and lichens and wearing a mischievous grin, he looks like the most fun to meet.