★ 07/13/2015
Little Elliot, the polka-dotted elephant who debuted last year (along with his creator) in Little Elliot, Big City, is now living with his pal Mouse. He seems to have licked his loneliness problem, but when Mouse leaves for a family reunion (Mouse estimates he has “15 brothers, 19 sisters, 25 aunts, 27 uncles, and 147 cousins”), Elliot wanders the city and realizes that he has a new reason to be sad: everyone has a family but him. Curato pulls out all the stops as his sensitive hero’s funk deepens, first taking Elliot to the docks for some disconsolate gazing, then to an empty movie palace where Elliot cries his way through a film about a happy elephant family. Luckily, Mouse reappears in the nick of time, and Elliot finds himself adopted by a family that’s the definition of extended. 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. Ages 4–8. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Oct.)
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
07/01/2015
PreS-Gr 1—It is a cold winter day and Little Elliot decides to spend it exploring the big city while his best friend, Mouse, attends his very large family reunion. As Elliot walks through the streets, rides the subway, and strolls through the park, he observes the wonderful diversity of the many families he passes. Elliot wonders what it would be like to have a family of his own. Taking in a movie to escape the cold, Elliot becomes sad and lonely in the big, empty theater. When the movie ends and he leaves the theater, he is pleased to discover that Mouse has come looking for him. Together, they return to the family reunion where they enjoy a wonderful evening filled with dancing, laughter, and Mouse's grandmother's warm cheese chowder. Elliot realizes that he does have a great big family after all. Set in 1940s New York City, this picture book is warm and inviting. The illustrations are rich and interesting, introducing young children to life in another era. Children may recognize many of the landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. The art creates an inviting atmosphere that draws readers in and keeps them lingering on each page, while the text tells an appealing story of family and friendship. VERDICT Let's hope for more stories about this adorable polka-dotted elephant and his loving pal.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE
★ 2015-07-15
The pachyderm who searched for friendship in Little Elliot, Big City (2014) returns to seek a family in this follow-up. Elliot's buddy, Mouse, is departing for a family reunion. With a huge clan—the cousins alone total 147—the group size in Mouse's photograph contrasts with the two figures (Elliot and Mouse) in Elliot's frame. Curato's palette and style are reminiscent of Edward Hopper. The lone elephant appears in an open window, the sole figure in a double-page spread depicting rows of closed, opaque panes in a brown facade near a barren tree: "The house was quiet. And empty." Subdued greens and reds predominate, and while some of the figures in the multiethnic neighborhood scenes are in groups, others are hidden behind newspapers or shadows, adding to the sense of isolation. Employing a restrained text, Curato mines the visuals for emotional impact, as when he portrays Elliot among a sea of empty chairs inside the cinema, tearfully watching a family film. The black-and-white movie connects to reality when the protagonist exits into a nocturnal snowfall. All is well when Mouse, having missed Elliot, invites him back to the candlelit attic feast. Playful endpapers mimic fine art and family portraits, with one very large addition. Young children will easily relate to Elliot's experience of loneliness and his relief at inclusion, both convincingly captured in this elegant tale. (Picture book. 3-6)
