The Magic House

April, who sees her house in an imaginative way that can turn the stairs into a waterfall and the living room into a desert, tries to share her vision with her older sister Meredith as Meredith practices her ballet steps

PreSchool-Grade 2-- April is convinced that her house is magic. A waterfall flows down the stairs, a desert covers the first floor, and two monsters (in the guise of washer and dryer) live in the basement. The only glitch is her big sister, Meredith, who is too mature for this kind of nonsense and is interested in more serious pursuits. When the older girl has a problem getting the right feeling into her role as a swan in an upcoming ballet recital, however, it is April to the rescue. The pool that has been collecting at the bottom of the waterfall in the front hall is the perfect place to imagine being a swan. The sisters share a special moment as Meredith glides over the water, finally realizing the magic of imagination. The dreamlike quality of the illustrations is perfect for this story. Readers see what April is thinking, and Meredith is actually transformed into a swan in the final pages. The book does not leave much to readers' imaginations, but the development of the story hinges on knowing what is in April's mind. Primary graders will be quick to identify with her in the face of a know-it-all older sister, and be encouraged that, despite their range in age, these siblings can still dream together. --Lisa S. Murphy, Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

April knows her house is magic--there's a waterfall down the stairs, a desert on the first floor and even two not very scary monsters in the basement. But older sister Meredith, who "didn't believe the house was magic," heartlessly dissolves these fantasies with a dose of reality, telling April to stop sliding down the stairs when April believes she is playing in the waterfall. When Meredith rehearses her role as a swan for a dance recital, April helps her sister "see" a lake with reeds in the front hall. Meredith soon becomes "a white swan on the beautiful blue lake in the middle of April's magic house." Eversole neatly pays tribute to the power of imagination in this inventive twist on sibling interdependence. The reader sees the house's imaginary landscapes through April's eyes, in soft, glowing colors; the children's faces, however, are insufficiently varied in expression and somewhat masklike. Nevertheless, this is a magical and promising first effort for both author and illustrator. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A book about the power of the imagination marks excellent debuts for both author and illustrator. In April's eyes, her house is full of magical things, shown in Palagonia's paintings in their everyday guise and also as her fancy transforms them: the two benign white monsters in the cave in the basement mutter when Mother feeds them laundry; there's a desert with huge cactuses in the living room (``Stop climbing on the furniture''); and, best, a waterfall cascades down the stairs to form a pool. Older sister Meredith, practicing being a swan for her dance recital, scoffs: ``Don't act dumb. This is the front hall.'' Patiently, April insists--``Practice here anyway''--and, taking her sister's advice, Meredith finally captures enough grace so that April sees her as a swan. Palagonia's carefully structured surreal art recalls Anthony Browne's luminous fantasies, though the message here is more explicit and direct. But the shared moment when the dancer discovers how to give her movements meaning is beautifully conveyed in a few carefully chosen words and by the artist's sensitive portrait of April and the lovely swan they both know has come to life. A story with real substance and appeal. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.