Little Elliot, Fall Friends (Little Elliot #4)

In this charming fourth outing for Curato's polka-dotted elephant Little Elliot and his friend Mouse, the companions take a needed break from the noise and chaos of their 1940s-esque Manhattan, hopping a bus for the countryside. After arriving at an idyllic farm, the two eat apples, soak up the autumn colors, and play hide-and-seek. Elliot's hiding place in the cornfield is a little too effective, but Mouse's ingenuity and pie-making skills reunite the friends--and result in a "fall feast" with some new barnyard pals. Curato's lush illustrations revel in the calm of rural expanses ("The country is even bigger than the city!" Elliot exclaims), creating a sense of palpable relief as the friends relax. Never underestimate the power of a getaway to rejuvenate one's spirits and friendships. Ages 4-8. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 1--Little Elliot, the tiny, polka-dotted elephant of Little Elliot, Big City and Little Elliot, Big Family, and his friend Mouse need a break from the hustle and bustle of New York City. So it's off to the country to take in the autumnal foliage. Little Elliot panics when Mouse fails to find him during a game of hide-and-go-seek, but the pachyderm smells something sweet and heads to a farmhouse. There, he finds a pie, which Mouse and some new pals baked to lure him out, and the tale ends with a fall feast and a cozy night beneath the stars. Making excellent use of light and shadow, the painterly illustrations are sumptuous, dominated by oranges, reds, and golds. Curato brings to life the fall countryside just as effectively as he does the urban setting. However, compared with other "Little Elliot" installments, which offer rich explorations of friendship and bravery, the plot is a little unfocused. The drama around Elliot being unable to locate Mouse comes relatively late in the game and is resolved fast, and the titular "fall friends" seem to arrive out of nowhere (Mouse meets them off-page). Still, Elliot is a winsome protagonist, and the charming visuals will entice children. The gentle prose makes this book suitable for a quiet storytime or a soothing bedtime read. VERDICT Recommended as an additional purchase or for collections where Little Elliot fans abound.--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

"Curato's lush illustrations revel in the calm of rural expanses ("The country is even bigger than the city!" Elliot exclaims), creating a sense of palpable relief as the friends relax." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Little Elliot, Fall Friends

"the resulting artwork offers a wondrous presentation of the russets, greens, and golds of trees on rolling hills, very like Grant Wood's idyllic farm landscape paintings. This charming celebration of friendship (and fall) deepens with each rereading." —Booklist on Little Elliot, Fall Friends

"Making excellent use of light and shadow, the painterly illustrations are sumptuous, dominated by oranges, reds, and golds. Curato brings to life the fall countryside just as effectively as he does the urban setting." —School Library Journal on Little Elliot, Fall Friends

"It's a gorgeous vision of summer in the city, as well as of small steps with big payoffs." —Publishers Weekly, starred review on Little Elliot, Big Fun

"A bravura celebration of the healing effects of acceptance and friendship." —Booklist, starred review, on Little Elliot, Big Fun

"Young children will easily relate to Elliot's experience of loneliness and his relief at inclusion, both convincingly captured in this elegant tale." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Little Elliot, Big Family

"Curato fleshes out Little Elliot's personality in this installment—there are glimmers of a character with real depth beneath his cutie-pie visage—while continuing to come up with wonderful, Hopperesque images of a bygone New York." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Little Elliot, Big Family

"[Curato is] a terrific emerging talent, with gorgeously rendered images that bring to mind the moodiness of Chris Van Allsburg and the sweetness of William Joyce." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Little Elliot, Big City

"Curato, a debut author and illustrator, tucks several gentle messages into one simple story that's perfect for the age group. . . . Happily, expect to see more of him." —Booklist, starred review, on Little Elliot, Big City

"A tiny, spotted elephant tackles the challenges of city life. . . . The simple story is told in 17 short sentences that allow Curato's magnificent 1940s-style illustrations to carry the tale." —School Library Journal on Little Elliot, Big City