Cress Watercress

Warmhearted and utterly charming. 

A hungry fox, a sneaky snake, a blundering bear, and "human beanpoles" add drama and suspense to Cress' mini adventures, which are luminously depicted in Litchfield's color illustrations. . . this novel of family and friendship will please fans of animal fantasies.

This gloriously illustrated chapter book makes an ideal read-alone or family read-aloud.

Maguire (Egg and Spoon) interweaves familiar elements of the animal story--a cozy family, a treacherous woodland, mourning, and growing pains--into a surreal episodic narrative. Grieving the loss of Papa Watercress, who "went out and didn't come back," rabbit child Cress, her little brother Kip, and their mother abandon their warren for new digs in "an apartment tree" known as the Broken Arms, where landlord Mr. Owl demands rent paid in moths. Upstairs are superintendent mice, boisterous squirrels, and songbirds alert for predators such as legendary snake "the Final Drainpipe" and fox Monsieur Reynard. Maguire channels multiple children's literary golden ages, with allusions to Beatrix Potter and Kenneth Grahame alongside nonsense notes of Norton Juster and Russell Hoban. Theatrical situations abound, as from conniving skunk Lady Agatha Cabbage--who wants to gain Cress as a "housemaid"--and her scene-stealing live-chinchilla stole. Super-saturated panels by Litchfield (The Bear and the Piano), which resemble backlit stained glass, picture the forest and its denizens in glowing hues and shadowy black. Suitable for sharing and reading aloud, this exuberant tale revels in the performative and the flavor of language. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Moses Cardona, John Hawkins and Assoc. Illustrator's agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Agency. (Mar.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Maguire's narrative offers wry puns, rich vocabulary, and entertaining dialogue, and Litchfield's glowing, slightly stylized, full-color illustrations present an enchanting, magical peek into this woodland world. . . . Warmhearted and utterly charming. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In this richly imagined woodland adventure, a grieving rabbit family—Mama, Cress, and baby Kip (with stuffed carrot "Rotty" always in tow)—must leave their comfortable warren to start over without their lost Papa. . . . Dark and shimmery full-color digital illustrations build on the text's singular atmosphere. . . . With its brisk plot, witty details, and thought-provoking concepts, this gloriously illustrated chapter book makes an ideal family read-aloud. —The Horn Book (starred review) 

This coming-of-age story with a female rabbit as the main character will appeal to readers who enjoy gentle adventure stories with an emphasis on character development. . . . Themes of family, friends, relationships, and independence abound in this novel. —School Library Connection

Who knew that rabbits and squirrels had so much to teach us about both the hard and tender times of life? Gregory Maguire, that's who. Cress Watercress is a clear-eyed lesson in picking up and moving forward, living with unanswered questions, and making new friends. I will recommend this beautifully written (and perfectly illustrated!) book to everyone. —Ann Patchett, New York Times best-selling author of The Dutch House