HALIBUT JACKSON

A shy boy comes out of his shell in this unusual debut. Like a chameleon, Halibut Jackson adapts to new environments by changing his look; he doesn’t want to be seen. At the park, for example, he wears a floral-patterned grass-green suit. But when the queen invites him to a royal party, and Halibut Jackson fashions a jewel-encrusted suit meant to match the palace, a mistake means that he stands out instead. Suddenly, he’s a star, and ends up opening his own store selling made-to-order outfits. Lucas’s lively, ’60s-inspired spreads, in which curvy lines, geometric shapes, and skewed perspectives create playful tableaus, are fun and funky and his message about gaining self-confidence by drawing on your strengths is positive. Nevertheless, Halibut Jackson’s transformation pushes the limits of believability. (Picture book. 4-8)