Zig and the Magic Umbrella

December 15, 2014
A magic umbrella transports Zig to a faraway place where adventure and friendship await. All seems blue on this dark and stormy day, until a red umbrella whooshes by Zig's treehouse. The Shrek-eared protagonist grabs hold of the umbrella, which pulls him to an unfamiliar land where dandelion-shaped trees and corallike plants have a mysterious, cheerful allure. When a bird he encounters asks for help, the umbrella becomes a tool to set a trapped flock free. Transformed by Zig's imagination, it becomes a boat, pick ax, bridge and lance. But its real magic lies in the friendship it forges between Zig and the little bird. Kantorovitz's mixed-media collage, full of pattern and texture, creates a vibrant fantasy landscape; the character designs and scenery recall the work of William Steig, Heinz Edelmann and Jill Bliss. For all its seeming strangeness, a comforting and familiar tale about a journey that ends in companionship and contentment. (Picture book. 3-5)

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January 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-Zig, a small blue creature, rather Shrek-like in appearance, lives alone in a tree. One rainy day, he spies a red umbrella floating by, grabs it, and goes on an adventure. Landing in a landscape populated by strange plants, Zig spots a weeping yellow bird. When it flies off, Zig follows it, using his umbrella as a boat, an assist for climbing, a bridge, a lever, and, ultimately, a powerful weapon. He helps the tiny bird free a flock of its friends that have been held captive in a cave by a brown beast. After literally diminishing the bully, Zig returns to his lonely tree house but doesn't stay alone for long, as he has made a friend. The slight story is accompanied by blue, red, turquoise and green collage and acrylic illustrations that vary in size. Offering minimal text, consisting solely of Zig's monologue, and not much tension, the story may be useful when discussing helping someone in need but will most likely not be requested for a second reading.-Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
Preschool-K When is an umbrella not an umbrella? When it is a bridge, a boat, or a lever, among other things. Little Zig, observing a rainy day through his window, is surprised when a red umbrella blows by. He grabs hold of it and is whisked away. He eventually lands near a yellow bird who needs help rescuing a flock of friends trapped in a cave guarded by a giant beast. While the umbrella is not so much magic as Zig is innovative in his use of it, the story certainly has its share of charmed escapades. The umbrella as a force for good is echoed in the final pages, when a grateful bird brings Zig a token of his appreciation: a red umbrellalike flower. While not a wordless picture book, the text is minimal. Author and illustrator Kantorovitz lets the rather geometrical illustrations tell the tale. Liberal use of white space makes the primary colors pop, even when there is a lot of activity on a page. A sweet, satisfying adventure for any day, rain or shine.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)