An enormous black dog and a very tiny little girl star in this offbeat tale about confronting one’s fears. When a huge black dog appears outside the Hope family home, each member of the household sees it and hides. Only Small, the youngest Hope, has the courage to face the black dog, who might not be as frightening as everyone else thinks. Reviews: Pinfold’s story has a timeless quality despite its entirely original flair, with sumptuous paintings and thumbnail embellishments adding narrative and descriptive content... A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) An ode to scale, to the portholes and bay windows of Victorian architecture, the poetry of family chatter, and steampunk elegance of antique hot-water heaters, all are here for young eyes to luxuriate in and imagine that they are courageous Small with their family’s love shining down like rainbows. Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty, this title will pair perfectly with Neil Gaiman’s The Wolves in the Walls. —School Library Journal (starred review) Pinfold’s lavish, Van Allsburg-like illustrations, which juxtapose tiny black-and-white sketches with big, detailed, frozen-in-time paintings, are quirky, funny, and often heart- stopping. Part David and Goliath, part Gingerbread Man, this UK import is a shot of courage for those who need it most. —Booklist (starred review) Pinfold’s interiors are crammed with quirky detail, and his small sepia vignettes, which cluster around the story’s text, are an elegant detail. More crucially, the story stays focused, the pacing is strong, and Small Hope is as charming as she is brave. —Publishers Weekly (starred review) About the Author: Levi Pinfold’s first book, The Django, was long-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal in the U.K. A wanderer at heart, Levi Pinfold lives in Brisbane, Australia. |