El Festival Florestástico de Eva

October 27, 2014
A self-possessed owl named Eva Wingdale has personality to spare in this diary-style first book in a series that joins the Branches line of early chapter books. With her love of “making stuff” and her sky-high ambitions, Eva has the makings of a lifestyle mogul (and with her jaunty beret, sneakers, and body assembled of brightly patterned shapes, she looks the part, too). But for now, Eva’s concerns are more immediate: spearheading the first-ever Treetop Elementary Bloomtastic Festival, which she conceived of herself. Asking for help isn’t Eva’s forte, but eventually she learns the importance of delegation—a key lesson for any future CEO. Appealing visuals (the text and art are set against the lined pages of Eva’s diary), punny dialogue, a few pratfalls, and Eva’s unflagging enthusiasm make for lively reading. Ages 5–7. Agency: Bright Agency.