Pandora

Reviewed by: Amy McInerney - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 7, 2017

Review

A beautiful fable about the hope and beauty friendship ignites in life, Turnbull’s Pandora is a beautiful picture book with themes that will beg for deeper discussion. Pandora, a lonely fox living in a world of broken items, finds an injured bird. After nursing the bird back to health, it ventures into the world, always returning with gifts. Pandora is broken-hearted when the bird does not return one day, and retreats to her bed. When she is finally roused from her sadness, she is greeted by the bird and a world full of plants and flowers. Simple text pairs beautifully with lush, intricate illustrations which mirror Pandora’s emotions. Turnbull’s art beautifully complements her narrative, as her use of muted colors and melancholy purples sets the tone when Pandora is lonely and unhappy. As Pandora feels hopeful, pinks, blues, and yellows lighten the world in which she moves. Even young readers will be able to identify the progression from the broken world shown in the early pages to the vivid and lively world shown at the end of the book. This picture book will be cherished and is recommended for every library.

Overall Book Score: very good