A Visit to the Big House
Despite a perhaps flip title, this sober work of bibliotherapy attempts to articulate the emotionally confusing experience of youngsters with a parent in prison. Nervous about visiting their incarcerated father for the first time, Willy and Rose bombard their mother with questions ("Is he going to have chains on his arms and legs?" Will he be wearing "those pajama things with big stripes?"). Butterworth ( The Enormous Egg ) takes pains to depict a functional family coping with a serious problem, and to eschew harmful stereotypes. In view of the subject matter, however, a fair amount of moralizing laces the text (which was originally published as a pamphlet for prison families in Connecticut), as evidenced by the drawing Willy makes after the visit--"He looks a little sad because he's not at home with us. But not too sad, because he's doing the right thing, and he's learned something." Avishai's ( Sophie and the Sidewalk Man ) skillful pencil illustrations reinforce the text's family-oriented message, depicting tender interplay among the characters. Though the specialized subject matter will limit the book's overall appeal, the designated audience will no doubt receive it with enthusiasm. Ages 7-10.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.