The Very Last Castle
Author:Travis Jonker
Illustrator: Mark Pett
Age range: 4-8
Reviewer: Jeanette Perkins aka Beeba
The very last castle in the world sits right in the middle of Ibb’s small town. Everyone warns her to steer clear because of the monsters, dragons and snakes they are sure live there. Their belief stems from the snaps, thuds and hissing sounds that come from within the castle walls. One day Ibb marches up and knocks on the large castle door but flees before it opens. Ibb is quite surprised to receive an invitation to the castle and bravely accepts.
“She took a deep breath. Slowly, Ibb did something none of the townspeople had ever done – she walked inside.”
Her visit to the castle reveals where the alarming sounds are really coming from and Ibb invites the lone occupant – an old guard – to venture into the village. This story teaches us that everything is not always as it seems. Sometimes a little curiosity and taking a risk by reaching out to something we fear can reveal a new friend. The pen and ink and watercolor illustrations complement the story very well.
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About the author:
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian and creator of 100 Scope Notes, a children’s literature blog hosted by School Library Journal, and cocreator of the The Yarn podcast. He was a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. He lives with his wife and two children in Zeeland, Michigan.
About the illustrator:
Mark Pett is the author/illustrator of many books for children, including Liquid from the Park, This Is My Book! and The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. Before books, Pett created comic strips. He has lived in Cambridge, Prague, New York City and the Mississippi Delta. He now calls Salt Lake City, Utah, his home.
About the reviewer:
Jeanette Perkins is the grandmother of two adorable grandsons. She lives in beautiful St Pete Beach, FL. Jeanette is a product reviewer for GRAND and is looking forward to reviewing lots of new and useful products for all us grandparents.
If you have a product for boomer grandparents and or their grandkids, tell us all about it in an email to editor@grandmagazine.com.
