Lucy and the Ghost Take the Stage!
Dave Dellecese, Author
Karen Crystina, Illustrator
Dandy Press, Fiction, Mar. 7, 2023
Suitable for ages: 5-9
Themes: Theater, Performing Arts, Acting, Ghost, Kids making a difference
Dave Dellecese, Author
Karen Crystina, Illustrator
Dandy Press, Fiction, Mar. 7, 2023
Suitable for ages: 5-9
Themes: Theater, Performing Arts, Acting, Ghost, Kids making a difference
Opening: “In a quiet little town, / not as big as once before, / sat a cozy little theater / built in 1864.”
Synopsis:
Lucy loves the theatre, rushing home after school each day to be part of the magic under the spotlight.
But in a world where screens have replaced the stage, can her beloved small town playhouse survive? Or will Lucy need help from an unexpected source to bring audiences back?
What I like about this book:
Dave Dellecese has written a charming story about a group of kids who want to save their historic theater. My favorite theme — a group of kids trying to make a difference in their community! Great to see kids taking action. Readers will have fun with the rhyming text, which includes a lot of action verbs and a strong rhythm. “Bursting through the theater doors, / greetings to the cast, / surrounded by the posters / of the theater’s storied past.”
Lucy is a fun-loving and memorable character eager to hurry to the therater after school and rehearse. It is a place where she loves pretending, unlike many of her friends who are attached to their phones. Her enthusiasm will appeal to readers. The ghost is a fun addition to the story as it has an important role to play at the end.
Karen Crystina’s eye-popping illustrations will engage readers from the start. They are bold, expressive and colorful. Nice touch to the story. And just look at that cover. Perfect summer read!
Resources: With the end of the school year approaching, many children will be heading to summer programs, many of which include theater productions. And there is also community summer theater programs. It’s a great way to introduce your children to live theater. And, during the fall and winter, many downtown theater’s have special programs for kids that introduce them to many forms of theater, like musicals, puppetry and so on.
Dave Dellecese is an author and writer of children’s books, graphic novels, comics, and sometimes even stories for grown-ups. He discovered the fun and joy of performing in theatre as a teen and hasn’t wanted to leave the pretend of the stage ever since. It’s onstage that he met his wife, Megan, when the two were cast in a show together. They currently live in Central New York State with their kids and cats.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for a review.