Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Penelope Crumb Finds Her Luck-Shawn K Stout; pictures by Valeria Docampo

Penelope Crumb Finds Her Luck

Shawn K Stout; pictures by Valeria Docampo

Philomel, Oct 15 2013, $14.99

ISBN: 9780399162541



Penelope Crumb feels depressed and lonely as she believes she’s no one’s Favorite since she learned about her Crumb cursed shnoz inherited from her Graveyard Dead dad and her paternal grandfather Felix. Recently her BFF Patsy Cline dumped the final F by becoming best pals with Vera Bogg.



She wishes her 24/7 bad luck would change into a little good luck but instead all she has is her older brother Terrence the Terrible to remind her of her misfortune. Her medical illustrator mom tries to encourage her but that makes Penelope feel worse as she knows her mother has no Favorite between her and her sibling. Voted to lead the Mother Goose mural painting at the Portwaller’s Blessed Home for the Aging, Penelope feels her luck must be changing until she finds out that being in charge is no fun as everyone hates the boss though resident Nila Wister makes the youngster feel a little better about Favorites.



The latest Penelope Crumb upper elementary school escapades (see Penelope Crumb Never Forgets) make for an amusing tale with a moral message about friendship enhanced by wonderful illustrations by Valeria Docampo. The beleaguered protagonist laments that she can’t escape from bad luck, which she concludes is why she is no one’s Favorite. At the nursing home, thanks in part due to Nila, Penelope begins to understand being the Favorite is not what matters when being cherished by loved ones brings good luck.



Harriet Klausner

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