  | Ellie has a secret Author: Bothe, Amelia | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
Ellie would never dream of taking something from her classroom without asking her teacher first. But the shell she finds during recess is particularly peculiar, and has a mysterious critter living inside it! Surprising even herself, she pops it in her pocket as a little secret when no one is looking. It's not long before the creature outgrows the shell and starts to weigh Ellie down. Does Ellie have a Secret or does the Secret have her?
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/15/25)
Booklist (+) (00/08/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 05/19/2025 The indoor sandbox in Ellie’s classroom holds an item that calls to her: a smooth seashell, dappled and glossy, "with a ridge along the opening that she ran her thumb across," writes Bothe in this artful picture book debut. In an impulsive moment, the pale-skinned child drops it into her pocket. At lunch, a creature emerges from the shell, hissing "in a voice that sounded like dripping water, ‘I am your Secret.’ " Green and unsettlingly sinuous, the Secret looks like an ancient sea monster. And it keeps growing: digital illustrations, which have the burnished colors and atmospheric lighting of classical art, show Ellie dragging the now-enormous being home through the rain, then getting edged out of bed. Summoning her courage, Ellie finally tells her mother the truth, resolves to return the shell, and watches as the Secret shrinks away. The story unfolds as a striking metaphor for how secrets can become overwhelming burdens, while promising that coming clean may represent not just relief but also a personal and empowering choice. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) - Copyright 2025
