Lily's Cat Mask - Hardcover

Julie Fortenberry wears many hats (ahem, masks), but her favorite one is  as an artist. Her artwork has been exhibited around the country, including at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Visit her at juliefortenberry.com and follow her on Twitter @childrensbook.

PreS-Gr 1—"Lily wasn't sure she wanted to get new things for school, but her father said it would be fun." The following page shows the child dragging her father backward as they are approached by an eager acquaintance. During this push-pull shopping trip, Lily spies a one-of-a-kind cat mask, and her father surprises her by buying it for her when she asks. She wears it right out of the store. Going forward, Lily wears the mask whenever she wants to hide from the world as well as when she wants to be noticed. The mask works both ways because it conceals her face and feelings while its novelty allows her to stand out. Bright, expressive spot art expands the text by capturing the moments and details that are most poignant for Lily—masked Lily making a wish over her birthday candles, her father introducing his masked daughter to her new teacher, Lily sitting alone at recess with her expression completely hidden behind the smiling cat mask. Navigating the transition to school is a challenge for Lily, but the mask (when it is not lost or confiscated in the teacher's drawer) gives her the extra confidence she needs to persevere, and ultimately leads her to a special, new friend. VERDICT This honest and appealing character and her story will be a joy to share and may bring comfort to readers and listeners nervous about starting school or making other transitions.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA