Pippa's Night Parade

PreS-Gr 1--When Pippa's imagination runs wild, it often brings on bouts of worry. In the light of day, Pippa imagines herself in magic armor; but at night, dragons, pirates, and bears climb out of her storybooks and send her running to her parents' bedroom. At last, Pippa hatches a plan to invite all of the storybook villains out for a fearsome parade so she can face them once and for all. It takes all of her sashes, bows, and hats to subdue the monsters once they discover their newfound sense of fashion, and the night parade becomes a "spectacular show" after which Pippa can finally get some rest. The story uses simple sentences with fun vocabulary and frequent alliteration to make for an entertaining read-aloud. The eponymous Pippa is shown with brown skin and curly hair. The digital media illustrations are dynamic with saturated colors and an amusing cast of villains that populate Pippa's bedroom, from lions and bears to witches and pirates. The formatting includes both sequential art and full-page spreads with detailed backgrounds to give depth to the illustrations and demonstrate the passage of time. VERDICT A whimsical story about how a little bravery and a strong sense of fashion can save the day and the night, suitable for the very young.--Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD

"A delicious triumph over fear of night creatures." —Kirkus Reviews

"Robinson and Fleming's playful take on a common phobia results in an adventurous story for children who are afraid of the dark." —Booklist

"An entertaining read-aloud. A whimsical story about how a little bravery and a strong sense of fashion can save the day and the night, suitable for the very young." —School Library Journal