Isabella

January 15, 2012
The impetuous Isabella returns (My Name Is Not Isabella, 2010), offering readers a whirlwind tour of the globe. A leisurely day of helping her father with yard work becomes a glorious adventure for the pint-sized explorer. Fosberry's tale unfolds as an afternoon-long conversation between father and child. With each request Isabella's father makes for her assistance with a project, the imaginative tot saucily explains why she couldn't possibly help. Isabella's sandbox play soon becomes the work of an aspiring archeologist searching for lost tombs, while her tree fort becomes a Mayan temple, perfect for observing the constellations. Isabella's father eagerly participates in his daughter's whimsical game. His wry responses to Isabella's grandiose proclamations are sprinkled with droll humor that will entertain readers both young and old. Fosberry adeptly captures children's endearing ability to re-imagine their world through creative play. Litwin's vivacious illustrations convey Isabella's endless capacity for invention. His color-laden pictures illuminate Isabella's imaginings, artfully transforming a commonplace landscape into the wonders of the world. Informative end pages contain pictures and descriptions of the places featured in the text. Isabella's characteristic ingenuity blossoms in this creative tale that encourages readers to give their imaginations free rein. (Picture book. 4-8)

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March 1, 2012

K-Gr 2-As Isabella and her father spend the day together, she imagines herself in various careers and locales throughout the world. She's an archaeologist in Egypt, an artist in Paris, a warrior in China, an astronomer in Mexico, the queen in England, and the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. At the end of the day she claims to have "discovered the most wonderful place." That place is home. The locales are not identified as Isabella imagines visiting them; instead, they are listed at the end with small photos. The illustrations show the girl with an oversize head and purple hair. Her stuffed mouse appears in every scene, always appropriately dressed for the place and occasion. In Egypt, its head appears as the top of the Great Sphinx. Although the people and places are depicted as cartoons, it is easy for adults to recognize the sites. A pleasant enough journey with a satisfying ending.-Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 24, 2016
The heroine of My Name Is Not Isabella highlights pioneering women in American politics. Once again, Isabella changes her name throughout, instructing her parents to call her Susanna (after Susanna Madora Salter, the first woman mayor), Jeannette (referring to congresswoman Jeannette Rankin), and Sandra (as in Day O’Connor), among other names. The personas let Litwin do some time traveling in his soft-textured digital illustrations as he pictures the purple-haired heroine inhabiting each role; the story concludes with Isabella witnessing the inauguration of a brown-skinned female president. Biographical background about each politico and a timeline of other female firsts round out a light introduction to women’s role in U.S. political history. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Gwen Walters.

July 1, 2012
Isabella explores the world while never leaving the backyard. The strong-willed, imaginative little girl transforms from archaeologist in Egypt to artist in France to astronomer in ancient Mexico. The language and pun-heavy interplay between Isabella and her father is lively; the illustrations occasionally stereotype world cultures but they're clever nevertheless. A guide to places and landmarks is appended. Reading list, websites.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)