THE YELLOW TUTU

When Margo receives a golden tutu for her birthday, she decides to wear it as a sparkly hairpiece instead of a dance costume. In light of her sunnier disposition, she envisions a brighter world. “Would the pavement heat up when she walked by, warmed by the brilliance of her rays?” Predictably, she is ridiculed for her unusual attire until a classmate defends Margo’s creative spirit. While the girl’s quirky independence is surprisingly refreshing, secondary characters are underdeveloped, doing little to spice up the too-sweet story. Occasionally, unnecessary details plod the pacing, while the conflict’s too neatly resolved. Margo’s tutu is the dominant feature against illustrator Bramsen’s cool blue backgrounds; splashes of yellow rays convey a feathery, spongy texture. During lighthearted moments, whimsical daydreams exhibit a dreamlike glow, though Margo shines most in her isolation. In the depth of her vulnerability, with knees bent and head bowed, Margo’s wilted tutu completely hides her face. Unfortunately, characters’ occasionally gooey expressions disrupt the gentle pictorial narrative, leaving more sparkle than substance. (Picture book. 3-6)