________________ CM . . . . Volume XX Number 17. . . .January 3, 2014

cover

The Good-Pie Party.

Liz Garton Scanlon. Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton.
New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books (Distributed in Canada by Scholastic Canada), 2014.
32 pp., hardcover, $18.99.
ISBN 978-0-545-44870-3.

Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 4-8.

Review by Carla Epp.

*** /4

Reviewed from f&gs.

   

excerpt:

Posy Peyton doesn't want to move. She doesn't want to pack her books or take down her bird feeder or undecorate her secret clubhouse And she really doesn't want to say good-bye.

 

In The Good-Pie Party, by Liz Garton Scanlon, Posy Peyton and her family are set to move away, and Posy is not interested in going. She does not want to pack up all her things, and she especially does not want to say good-bye to her friends, Megan and Mae. All of their mothers encourage them to see the bright side and enjoy the time they have left together, but Posy is only able to see the end and what she will miss once she is gone. Once the house is packed up, the only thing the girls can find to do is bake a pie. They realize through this activity that instead of having a good-bye party like Posy's mom suggested, they could have a good-PIE party and say so long instead. The whole neighborhood is invited to enjoy one last night together, and everyone brings a pie to share. At the end of the party, Posy, Megan, and Mae notice that the moon looks much like a pie and that the moon is something they can always share, even if they do not live as close together anymore.

internal art     The emotions and message in this story are universal. Children and parents alike will find themselves identifying with Posy and the emotions she is feeling as she packs up to move away from the home she knows. Anyone who has had to say good-bye to a friend or loved one will relate to how hard it can be to say good-bye. This story conveys the value that people find in having good friends that understand each other and support each other. It is also a valuable reminder of the differences in how adults and children say good-bye and deal with change. The story is a good reminder that people can celebrate and still be sad about the change they are experiencing.

     The watercolor illustrations in this book are pretty and fluid but manage to depict a world that appears realistic. Considering that the illustrations are done in watercolor, most pages are still quite vivid and interesting, although a few pages do seem a little bland. The biggest strength of the illustrations are the emotions conveyed. They mimic the text well.

     The Good-Pie Party is a lovely and honest portrayal of a young girl who is moving away despite her desire to stay where she is. The story is relatable, and the illustrations are a good complement to the story. The Good-Pie Party would be a good purchase for all libraries.

Recommended.

Carla Epp is a librarian with Winnipeg Public Library.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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