Emily's Blue Period

Daly (Prudence Wants a Pet) offers a picture book with a middle-grade sensibility, examining the way that creating art can help dispel distress--in this case, the sadness that accompanies parental separation. Emily is already interested in art when her teacher introduces the class to Picasso: "Things in his paintings weren't where you'd expect them to be." When Emily's father moves into his own apartment, things aren't where Emily expects them to be, either. Holding a book about Picasso like a shield, she tells her mother why she can't complete her art project: "I am in my blue period." Brown (29 Myths on the Swinster Pharmacy) keeps her pencil and watercolor drawings simple and lucid, while Daly ably balances sentimentality and wit, as when Emily discovers Picasso's long full name and renames herself "Emily Emilia Rosita Jenny... Igor de la Eyeball Montoya Fluffy Pinchner." When Emily is able at last to make a collage about her home, Daly conveys believable affection without sinking into soppiness. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Meredith Kaffel, DeFiore and Company. Illustrator's agent: Charlotte Sheedy, Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. (June)

Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 1-3--A lovely, contemplative picture book. The text is short, with no more than a few sentences per page, but the writing is evocative and does a wonderful job of portraying the complicated emotions and behaviors experienced by children during confusing times. Divided into five vignettes labeled as chapters, the story is that of Emily, a young girl who loves art--particularly Pablo Picasso's unique way of portraying the world through cubism. When her parents separate, both she and her younger brother struggle to cope with the new reality. This book does a beautiful job of using the arts to show Emily's process as she grieves, accepts, and adapts to the changes in her family. The pencil and watercolor illustrations are appropriately muted, sticking to a soft blue, green, and brown color scheme with highlights of yellow and red. The subtle addition of some digital imagery creates lively, relatable illustrations. Despite the difficulties that Emily's family may be having, their imperfect life is full of love, and that comes through in both art and text. This is not a straightforward "What is divorce" story but rather a window into one girl's complicated emotional journey. It's a first purchase for libraries that have a section of picture books for older readers, and a high-quality, nondidactic book for parents and caregivers looking to start conversations about divorce.--Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"A girl adjusts to her parents' divorce with the help of Pablo Picasso's artwork . . . A worthwhile, idiosyncratic demonstration of a specific artist's relevance to a young child." - "Kirkus Reviews"