Review: Lucy by Randy Cecil

Lucy by Randy Cecil

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Publication Date: August 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Recommended Age: All
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Children, Picture Books, Animals, Family

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BLURB:

A tiny dog, a kindhearted girl, and a nervous juggler converge in a cinematic book in four acts.

Lucy is a small dog without a home. She had one once, but she remembers it only in her dreams. Eleanor is a little girl who looks forward to feeding the stray dog that appears faithfully beneath her window each day. Eleanor’s father is a juggler with stage fright.

I haven’t read a picture book in… forever? I honestly can’t remember. Sure I’ve read middle grade novels with illustrations inside but picture books per se? I can’t say for sure.

This read a bit like a graphic novel, except with less writing and larger (and fewer) illustrations.

It’s the story of a gentle girl with a loving heart who feeds a stray adorable dog every day and her father who must conquer his fear of juggling before an audience.

The illustrations are in black and white, which gave this a timeless feeling – like, it could be historical but also modern; there is no specific time associated to it.

The drawings are definitely going to be a hit or miss for some people because, you guys, it’s not digital art. You won’t have your breath being taken by any of them. But they’re so pleasant and create this calm, melancholy atmosphere. I wouldn’t change them if I could.

So it’s a short story and a pretty straightforward one at that, but it does come with lovely themes. I especially liked seeing the father who, although day after day he messed up his juggling routine, kept trying and trying and trying. The girl’s care for the dog was also charming.

Not half bad.

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