Geraldine

Starred review from April 16, 2018
This funny, thoroughly accomplished debut opens with two words: “I’m moving.” They’re spoken by the title character while she swoons across her family’s ottoman, and because Geraldine is a giraffe, her full-on melancholy mode is quite a spectacle. But while Geraldine may be a drama queen (even her mother says so), it won’t take readers long to warm up to her. The move takes Geraldine from Giraffe City, where everyone is like her, to a new school, where everyone else is human. Suddenly, the former extrovert becomes “That Giraffe Girl,” and all she wants to do is hide, which is pretty much impossible. “Even my voice tries to hide,” she says, in the book’s most poignant moment. “It’s gotten quiet and whispery.” Then she meets Cassie, who, though human, is also an outlier (“I’m that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always organizes her food”), and things begin to look up. Lilly’s watercolor-and-ink drawings are as vividly comic and emotionally astute as her writing; just when readers think there are no more ways for Geraldine to contort her long neck, this highly promising talent comes up with something new. Ages 4–8. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties.

Starred review from April 1, 2018

K-Gr 2-After Geraldine and her parents move, she realizes that she's the only giraffe at her new school. Back in Giraffe City, she was happy-go-lucky Geraldine; here's she's "That Giraffe Girl." Deflated, she withdraws until she befriends Cassie, another recent transplant. Both become more confident, and Geraldine is soon back to her vivacious self. Reminiscent of Quentin Blake's art, the loose, expressive illustrations brim with drama; a floppy-necked Geraldine sags, sulks, and uses the schoolyard flag as a handkerchief. Debut picture book author Lilly understands childhood anxieties, and her honest but reassuring tale never sugarcoats the angst of feeling different. Even after making new friends, Geraldine confides, "People still look at me funny sometimes, and sometimes I want to hide, or go home, or cry." However, the work ends on a cheery note that will resonate with readers. VERDICT A whimsical take on being the new kid in town; an excellent pick for storytimes or one-on-one sharing.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2018
Meet Geraldine, a boisterous, dramatic giraffe with a lanky, expressive neck, who is miserable about leaving her giraffe city for a town where she will be the only giraffe. Rarely do picture books featuring life transitions--such as a new baby, moving, or the first day of school--depict them with such humor, poignancy, and believability. Hilarious yet heartwarming illustrations depict Geraldine in melodramatic poses, trying to run away and breaking her belongings to avoid packing. When she arrives at her new school (populated only by humans), her neck sticks out no matter what, foiling her attempts to play hide-and-seek, swim in the pool, and just blend in. That is, until she meets Cassie--a young girl of color who has her own distinctive traits that make her stand out, too. Together, they build trust, friendship, and confidence. With more than a little drama, lots of heart, and the most expressive neck in all of children's literature, Geraldine learns to embrace her own uniqueness and that of her new friend, and soon her classmates do, too. Lilly's bright, classic watercolors, brimming with whimsy and charm, create an immersive world full of details big and small. Readers will fall in love with Geraldine in this stellar debut.Perfect for young giraffes--or children--who stand out in the very best of ways and just need to know they're all right exactly how they are. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2018
Preschool-G Geraldine the giraffe is dismayed?you can tell by the disconsolate slump in her long neck. Her parents got new jobs, and now they need to move from the giraffe city to a human town. Being the new girl would be bad enough, but Geraldine sticks out, literally! She's too tall for the bus, too tall for the pool, and, worst of all, too tall to hide. When she finally finds a quiet tree, she's surprised when she runs into another girl, Cassie, who also feels like an outcast: I'm that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always organizes her food! But both Cassie and Geraldine learn that one friend can be enough to create a sense of belonging. Lilly illustrates this evergreen picture book topic with freewheeling artwork in loose, sketchy cartoon figures and watercolor washes. Geraldine's long neck is particularly expressive, and her height among her human classmates makes for some silly visual comedy. Though there's not much new here, little ones will likely appreciate the warm tone and humorously mismatched friends.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)