Mr. Tiger, Betsy, and the Blue Moon (Mr. Tiger #1)

Should please Anglophiles fond of cozy, English cultural references and nonstop whimsy. 

Gr 3-5--With a mother who is a mermaid and a father who makes and sells ice cream for a living, Betsy lives a life of wishes, magic, and adventure. When Mr. Tiger comes to town with his troupe of tiny acrobats, he enlists the help of Betsy and her parents with a particularly adventurous mission: to turn the moon blue in order to harvest the Gongalong berries that make wishes come true for anyone who eats them. Descriptive phrasing, fun word choices, giants, toads, and ice cream make this story an entertaining read. This title is printed in blue Dyslexie typeface (a printed alphabet design with heavier bottoms, slightly different shapes, and longer sticks, according to dyslexiefont.com) to improve readability for those with dyslexia. With detailed crosshatching, Maland's cheerful and copious illustrations offer an enchanting complement to the story. VERDICT This novel and its beautiful illustrations have many fairy-tale elements woven together in a fresh way, creating a story that is at once familiar and unique.--Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa