Synopsis:
Skeleanor loves music more than life itself. There’s just one problem: She has a bit more rattle than rhythm at the moment. No matter what type of instrument she playsfrom the fiddle to the xyloboneshe always seems to scare the people of Little Casketon away. But with the Little Casketon Summershine festival coming up, and the town band missing a player, maybe Skeleanor (along with the help of her best friend, Batima) could show people her skills and finally take center stage.
I found this book easier to read in physical book form over digital, since the pages are so full of details. Emily Ettlinger uses the pages to their full extent and her illustrations are very colorful and full of whimsy.
Skeleanor is a very energetic and lively character, which is saying a lot considering that she's a skeleton. Batima, her best friend, is an adorably drawn bat, filled with sage advice.
I read this book with my seven-year-old granddaughter, Paisley. We both enjoyed following along with Skeleanor as she chased after her dream of being part of the band and playing in the Little Casketon Summershine Festival. Her journey has moments of sadness but it also has humor and it's filled with a heart-warming message.
If we had to find a flaw with the book, Paisley and I both agreed that it could have been a bit shorter; we had to take a break in the middle of the story before carrying on to the conclusion.
Overall, we highly enjoyed the story and illustrations and would happily recommend this book. It was a great debut graphic novel and we're both looking forward to reading what Emily Ettlinger follows up with. ~~ Dee Astell with assistance from Paisley Hernandez
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