![]() ![]() ![]() The narrator advises that it’s important for grandparents to get plenty of exercise Grandpa’s favorite moves include “the Bump, the Hustle, and the Funky Chicken.” The first-person instruction and the artwork-drawn in a childlike scrawl-portray this grandfather in a funny, though unflattering, stereotypical light as he pulls quarters from Goldie’s ears, burps on command, and invites Goldie to pull his finger. It’s just too much for them.” Goldie observes that grandparents “live on a diet of all the things your parents tell them are bad for them” but finds that Grandpa’s favorite fast-food restaurant does make for a great meal out. At Grandparents Day at school, his loud greeting and incessant flatulence are embarrassing, but Goldie is confident that he-and all grandparents-can be handled with the “right care and treatment.” The young narrator notes that playtime should involve the imagination rather than technology-“and NO video games. Though “loyal and loving,” Goldie’s grandfather proves to be quite a character. While spending the day with Grandpa, young Goldie offers tips on the care and keeping of grandparents. Creatures-familiar and fantastical alike-give clues to the impending magical misfires taking place on this Southeast Asian island. Readers will recognize the looks of mischief, innocence, and determination on Little Linh’s and Baby Phu’s faces. Yum’s illustrations (acrylic gouache and color pencil) alternate perspectives and angles, energetically capturing the escalating sibling situation. Her guesswork to repair the spell goes “terribly, terribly wrong”-but it turns out that having a little brother might just prove to be a lucky thing. The results, though, are not quite what she had hoped. With her spell book partially eaten, Little Linh gamely casts spell after half-concocted spell with the intent to transform Baby Phu into a nice goldfish. Naturally, magic will solve the little witch’s brother problem. No one else seems to need or want Baby Phu either-not the troll under the bridge, not the fairy queen in the forest, and certainly not the werewolves at the Orphanage for Lost and Magical Creatures. Baby brothers sneak disastrous rides on your trusty broomstick, eat your spell book, use your pets against you, and disturb your sleep. What she does not need is a baby brother. Little Linh has all she needs to be “the cleverest little witch on Mãi Mãi Island”: a broomstick, a “book of powerful spells,” and a “rare and magical pet” (a glowing, winged mouse). With the help of a little magic, a young witch tries to make her annoying baby brother more tolerable. ![]()
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