 | Bog Myrtle Author: Sharp, Sid | |
| Price: $14.99 | ||
Summary:
Two sisters, one stubbornly cheerful (Beatrice) and one relentlessly grumpy (Magnolia), live in a drafty old house with a family of helpful spiders. When Beatrice is gifted magic yarn from a giant forest spider obsessed with sustainability named Bog Myrtle, she and the spiders set to work knitting up a perfectly warm sweater.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/01/24)
School Library Journal (00/10/24)
Booklist (11/01/24)
The Hornbook (00/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2024 A greedy grouch gets her just deserts in this richly painted fable. Good-natured Beatrice decides to make her mean-spirited sister, Magnolia, a cozy sweater, so she collects some forest treasures to exchange for yarn. When her plan fails, Beatrice returns the treasures to the forest, only to run into the dreaded Bog Myrtle, a gigantic spider who turns anyone stealing from the forest into a fly. But Myrtle and Beatrice bond over their love of the forest, and Myrtle gives her some magical silk—even better than yarn! When Magnolia exploits Beatrice’s knitting skills, however, it raises important questions about what actually constitutes stealing. Sharp takes classic fable elements—talking wildlife, an ominous creature, and an unrepentant villain—and gives them a modern spin with a moral about not only greed but also stripping the environment of resources and not treating workers fairly. The paintings’ rich color palette and exaggerated bodies and expressions nicely telegraph the characters’ personalities and firmly establish the off-kilter atmosphere of the story. A perfect choice for fans of macabre takes on fairy tales. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
