CINNAMON'S DAY OUT

Illustrated with vivid and expressive collages composed of wood chips, cardboard, wallpaper, an assortment of fibers, and textured, handmade papers, this is the thoroughly charming tale of a gerbil’s unexpected adventure outside his cage. Told entirely from the gerbil’s point of view, the story has an interaction between text and art that is reminiscent of the misleading adventures of Janet Morgan Stoeke’s Minerva Louise. Cinnamon calls the screen on his cage the “sky,” a dog is a “wolf,” the pet’s water bowl a “pond,” etc. In an endearing spread, he happily hides in his version of a barn, eating his way through all sorts of delicacies, until a giant—his owner—comes along and says “Cinnamon! What are you doing in the cupboard?” The giant provides an aerial trip home to Cinnamon’s cage and his mate, Snowball, who is very happy to see him. Spare text, perfect pacing, innovative illustrations, and delightful tongue-in-cheek humor make this work on many levels. (Picture book. 4-7)