Harry and Clare's Amazing Staycation

A rainy vacation at home doesn't have to be a disaster if one has imagination. Harry and his big sister Clare have imagination to spare. On Monday they stay in and go to Mars (which "looked a lot like the family room, except for the volcanoes."). Tuesday they ride a fancy "Pasta Linguini" race car around the supermarket while Dad shops. The week goes on, and all would be well if only Clare would stop hogging the snacks and the rule-making rights. Clever Harry finally stops trying to share his ideas, and starts lining his pockets with pilfered treats. Thursday, when the two are avoiding "umpire bats" on their "Kimono dragons," Clare realizes they forgot food. Harry saves the day by quietly producing asteroid burgers (cookies) and volcano sticks (baby carrots), but lets his sister have some only when she agrees to let him lead some of the explorations.

Younger siblings are often at a disadvantage when it comes to calling the playtime shots. Resourceful Harry manages to work the big-sister system without ever resorting to tears or tantrums. Clare, to her credit, seems to recognize that sharing a little power doubles the creative possibilities. Ted Staunton (Morgan on Ice) is a masterful storyteller, capturing the magic of childhood play and sibling relationships with sly humor and understanding. Mika Song's sweet pen-and-watercolor illustrations blend the everyday (a plain staircase with pale blue wallpaper) with the fantastical (an "Abdominal Snowman" in fuzzy slippers chasing a golf-club-wielding Harry up a snowy mountain). Every rainy "staycation" should be this much fun! --Emilie Coulter, freelance writer and editor

Powered by: Xtenit