SHARK IN THE PARK

The continuing adventures of Cordelia, a young girl raised by a squirrel after she was abandoned in Central Park as a baby.

Cordelia considers herself “squirlish”: “a little bit squirrel and a little bit girl.” Though she speaks Chittering (the language of squirrels), moves nimbly through the trees, and lives in a snug treehouse in an old elm, she wears clothes supplied by a kindly groundskeeper and has human friends. Sometimes her stomach gets “blurggy” at the thought that she doesn’t really belong. Summoned to Belvedere Castle by Queen Isabel, Cordelia initially worries that the squirrel leader is planning to banish her. But Queen Isabel instead instructs Cordelia to accompany Prince Oliver on his quest for the long-lost Royal Scepter. This won’t be easy, since the young squirrel prince cares little for the scepter; all he can think about is sharks. Prince Oliver peppers Cordelia with shark questions, constantly drops his crown, and generally causes havoc. This fast-paced tale features delightful, inventive language, complemented by Cristofori’s energetic cartoons. As in the previous series installment, Central Park feels like a major character, along with New York City itself. A noteworthy scene at the Museum of Natural History sees Cordelia and Oliver learning about Seneca Village, a 19th-century African American community that was displaced when the park was built. The characters are quirky, and readers will cheer for Cordelia—and laugh out loud often. Cordelia presents white.

Fantastical, funny, and charming.