Charlotte and the Quiet Place

June 1, 2015
Charlotte, a brown-skinned girl with a mop of curly hair, struggles to find peace and quiet living in New York City: “On the sidewalk, the jackhammers blast. On the street, the sirens warble and wail.” After Charlotte chases her dog into the park, the two sit under a tree where Charlotte calms her breathing and her mind, finding a “quiet place inside” she can return to as needed. Woolley uses electric starbursts and lightning bolts to visually punctuate the noises assailing Charlotte—it isn’t subtle, but neither is city life. Readers who feel similarly overwhelmed may take inspiration from the way that Charlotte discovers mindfulness on her own terms. Ages 3–8.

November 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Charlotte lives in a bustling urban neighborhood. Her home, her school, and her street seem to be filled with nothing but noise. Even the places that are supposed to be quiet, like her bedroom, the library, and the park, are loud. One day, her dog breaks free from his leash and Charlotte chases him into a quiet grove. Whenever she needs quiet from that day on, she reminds herself of the calm she found inside herself that day. The mixed-media illustrations add to Charlotte's loud surroundings but overpower the story itself. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries looking for tales about finding inner peace and well-being.-Brittany Staszak, St. Charles Public Library, IL

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