The Surprise Visitor

There are some new illustrators out there that have developed some amazing techniques, but it's hard not to let the writer in me get too picky--especially with "The Surprise Visitor" by Juli Kangas. You're going to have to muddle through names like Mr. Chibble, Mrs. Twitch and Mr. Crustydome all on page - but the story brings in some familiar characters that aren't often featured in children's stories (like the couple who's too particular/busy to have a family). The cutest pages are those showing the growing bunny family, and my daughter Sierra was hoping for cut-outs of the baby rabbits to hang onto. Maybe I can make her day and scan them in and print out a few for her to play with!

Edgar Small, a mouse, is inside his cozy home, trying to think of an interesting subject to write to his brother about, when he hears a tap on his door. Upon investigation, Edgar finds a small blue egg sitting upon his doorstep. Edgar, assuming that the egg belongs to one of his friends, begins a search through the countryside to find it's parents, but everyone he comes across denies that it is their egg. However, each animal does decorate the egg in a different way, to make it look happier - from painting the shell a different color, to adding a friendly face. Then Edgar comes across Mrs. Fleedle, a bird looking for her missing egg. And just as he is returning the egg to Mrs. Fleedle, it cracks open, and out comes a baby bird. Edgar then proceeds back home to write a letter to his brother about his recent adventure. Just from looking at the cover of Juli Kangas' THE SURPRISE VISITOR, I knew that I would love the story. Kangas has a talent that combines marvelous illustrations with a lovely story that will put a smile on anyone's face. Edgar is an adorable character, who, like many people in everyday life, wants nothing more than to experience an adventure that he can write home about, and gets just that. An enchanting story that will leave all readers hoping for their very own surprise visitor. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper