Emily's Eighteen Aunts - Hardcover

Curtis Parkinson is a Fitzhenry and Whiteside author.

Kindergarten-Grade 2-All of Emily's friends have aunts, uncles, and grandparents who cheer for them at ballgames and take them for banana splits. Emily only has her mother, who is busy with the new baby, so she puts up an advertisement at the supermarket: "Wanted/An Aunt For Emily." The response is overwhelming: she now has 18 aunts (all from the local senior center) to support her. But at each outing, a different one embarrasses her, and so, sadly, she stops seeing them. A few weeks later, Emily sees an ad at the supermarket: Wanted/Niece or Nephew for Lonely Aunts. Apply at Senior Center. P.S. Must be willing to put up with all kinds of aunts." After much thought, the child joyfully reunites with the women, who immediately suggest a picnic. "Their picnic was definitely different from anyone else's. Emily and her eighteen aunts wouldn't have wanted it any other way." Similar in theme to Jama Rattigan's Truman's Aunt Farm (Houghton, 1994), Parkinson's lively tale is, unfortunately, hampered by muddled cartoonlike artwork. The pictures are done in pale washes of color, which do not reflect the energy and vivaciousness of the story, and some of the women have no clear facial features or expressions. The text shines despite the poor illustrations, though, and children will relate to Emily's desire for a family like everyone else's.
Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL
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