Balcony

From acclaimed illustrator Melissa Castrillon comes a magical story of how a girl’s garden in her new home changes her life and the lives of people all around her.

Reviews

CASTRILLÓN, Melissa. The Balcony. illus. by Melissa Castrillón. 48p. S. & S./Paula Wiseman Bks. Sept. 2019. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781534405882.

PreS-Gr 2–A young girl brings along her love of the outdoors as she makes the adjustment of moving from a country home to a city apartment in this mostly wordless attestation to the possibilities of change and the meaning of home. When her mother receives a great job offer in the city, a girl is heartbroken to leave her home’s lush garden where she has found solace with the flora and fauna, only to move to an apartment where the main access to the outdoors is a small, barren balcony. Soon, with some seeds she brought with her, she starts a balcony garden that quickly flourishes, spilling over to the balconies below hers. While enjoying her garden, she meets a friend, which leads to a satisfying realization that home can be a lot of things. With only a few elegantly hand lettered words, Castrillón’s richly hued digital and pencil Ottoman-style illustrations carry the story. Making use of the book’s narrow shape, she moves back and forth between spreads and vignettes that add pacing and offer moments to pause and bask in the splendor of the magical world the girl is creating. Centered on the child’s story, other story lines unfold in the background, reinforcing the book’s theme of hope in change. VERDICT A book to assuage the fear of moving to a new home, this lovely illustrated tale will be a delightful addition to most collections.–Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR