March 19, 2024

Penny Lu Porcupine by Katie Gilstrap (review)

Puntos clave

Penny Lu, the porcupine, faces challenges due to her vision impairment, but still shows great bravery when encountering wildlife.
Dynamic illustrations enhance the storytelling, featuring lush visuals and a variety of wildlife that engage young readers.
The narrative touches on the themes of perception and fear, though the humor surrounding vision impairment may lead to mixed interpretations regarding ableism. Each story spread effectively invites children to explore various animals and elements in their surroundings, enriching their sensory experience.

Resumen

Reviewed by: Penny Lu Porcupine by Katie Gilstrap Cassidy Russell Gilstrap, Katie Penny Lu Porcupine; illus. by Maribel Lechuga. Paulsen/ Penguin, 2024 32p Trade ed. ISBN 9780593326275 18. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593326282 10. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad 3-6 yrs Penny Lu the porcupine knows she has to be very careful when she goes out into the woods, where animals bigger and stronger than she is—cougars, coyotes, and even bears—roam. Unfortunately, her poor vision often means she mistakes End Page 280 harmless objects for predators, causing her to raise her quills as high as she can and yell "I'm big and I'm brave and I'm prickly, too! So leave me alone, or I'll come after YOU!" at tree stumps, rocks, etc. Her nose is more accurate than her eyes, however, and it easily cues her into the presence of a real bear, and when her instincts kick in, she proves herself to be "fearless as fearless can be. " Lechuga's lush digital illustrations are dynamic without being busy; hand-textured natural elements make an immersive, sensory experience, from the bear's dripping fur as he retreats across a river, to closeup vignettes of Penny Lu's snout sniffing flowers, to the peacock feather-like glory of the porcupine's quills. A warm daytime palette of golds contrasts nicely with the cool periwinkles in the evening, and the red and orange explosion surrounding Penny Lu's exclamations make clear her fear and bravery. Unfortunately, the jokes about Penny Lu's vision impairment toe the line between warm acceptance of those who don't see well and accidental ableism, and the message about valuing all abilities gets lost in humor. Sighted youngsters will love discovering the myriad of animals and flora hiding in each spread, so this could still serve as part of a storytime on the senses. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

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