Fanny & Annabelle
Kindergarten-Grade 3—The creative spirit that drove the child to make a doll in Hobbie'sFanny(Little, Brown, 2008) is at work again in this appealing story within a story. When a drizzly day inspires Fanny to make a picture book, she casts her doll as the lead. As Annabelle's story unfolds, Fanny unwittingly finds her own dilemma paralleled in the fiction she is creating. Although the stories have many similar elements, the two narratives are distinct due to the childlike penmanship and art that illustrate Annabelle's tale. This lively narrative generates just enough friction between the easy thing to do (keep found money) and the challenge of doing the right thing (return it) to grab readers' interest. Hobbie's delightful illustrations are suffused with warm pinks and yellows. They continue to capture an almost country charm but retain an urban sophistication because of the setting. The book strikes a balance between the subtle appeal of the message and the clarity required for young audiences. Children and the adults who share this title with them will enjoy it.—Piper Nyman, Brookmeade Elementary School, Nashville, TNCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.