The Tear Thief
She has short, spiky white hair and big, gray eyes; she wears a handkerchief dress and silk slippers; andevery evening she steals tears from children and collects them in a silvery sack: she s the Tear Thief. Butshe s a good thief because her special magic whisks away the reason a child cries. Different kinds oftears are different colors, and the most valuable tears are those of pure sadness. When the TearThief comes upon a little girl crying because she has lost her dog, she befriends the girl and dries hertears. As the story progresses, young listeners may begin to wonder why the Tear Thief collects tears andwhat she does with them, and in a soothing resolution, they find out. The mystical acrylicillustrations, colored mostly in nighttime shades of blue, gray, and purple, are even more haunting andethereal than the somewhat lengthy story. Reserve this for children who can appreciate quiet, hearttuggingfantasy with a mystical aura.- Julie Cummins --Booklist, November 15, 2007