Frances in the Country by Liz Garton Scanlon and Sean Qualls - OPTIONAL

Frances in the Country by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Sean Qualls. PICTURE BOOK. Neal Porter Books (Holiday House), 2022. $19. 9780823443321

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Frances, a child from the city, goes to visit her country cousins. During her stay, she gets to do those things she can't do in the city because of the city's unwritten rules. She seems to enjoy her short visit. She also notes the difference in sounds from the city compared to sounds in the country.

I didn't like the oversimplified picture of country living and of city life. It's told in third person and the text doesn't have a good flow; it seems pretty superficial. The pictures are okay, but not fantastic.

Wendi Smart, Librarian