Mathilda is off to a great start!

Within just a few days, Randall's new book, Mathilda and the Orange Balloon (or here) is garnering great reviews! Naturally, I'm biased but it's a great little story and if you get a chance, take a look.

Kirkus Reviews
Refusing to follow the boring herd mentality of her grazing companions, a visionary little sheep uses her imagination to achieve the impossible. Mathilda’s world of grass, sky, stones and lots of other sheep seems small until a magnificent orange balloon catches her eye. Enchanted, Mathilda immediately proclaims she, too, is an orange balloon. The other sheep laugh, warning Mathilda she’ll never be anything but a gray sheep since she’s not round, can’t fly and isn’t orange like the balloon. Undaunted, Mathilda happily proceeds to creatively visualize herself into a round, flying, orange balloon proving “anything was possible.” Relying on black outlines, simple shapes and effective use of white space, Corace’s precise watercolor-and-ink illustrations reinforce the upbeat message of possibility. She artfully contrasts the dull gray-and-green existence of the sheep with the alluring bright orange balloon as it floats across the pages to spark Mathilda’s exuberant, imaginative and infectious flight of fancy. The unflappable Mathilda will tickle and inspire. (Picture book. 3-6)

TimeOut NY Kids
MATHILDA AND THE ORANGE BALLOON
Refusing to follow the boring herd mentality of her grazing companions, a visionary little sheep uses her imagination to achieve the impossible. Mathilda’s world of grass, sky, stones and lots of other sheep seems small until a magnificent orange balloon catches her eye. Enchanted, Mathilda immediately proclaims she, too, is an orange balloon. The other sheep laugh, warning Mathilda she’ll never be anything but a gray sheep since she’s not round, can’t fly and isn’t orange like the balloon. Undaunted, Mathilda happily proceeds to creatively visualize herself into a round, flying, orange balloon proving “anything was possible.” Relying on black outlines, simple shapes and effective use of white space, Corace’s precise watercolor-and-ink illustrations reinforce the upbeat message of possibility. She artfully contrasts the dull gray-and-green existence of the sheep with the alluring bright orange balloon as it floats across the pages to spark Mathilda’s exuberant, imaginative and infectious flight of fancy. The unflappable Mathilda will tickle and inspire. (Picture book. 3-6)

Ohdeedoh/ Apartment Therapy
It's natural to want to keep reading your favorite childhood books to your kids, but there are wonderful books for kids coming out all the time worthy of a shot at becoming your family's next favorite book. Mathilda and the Orange Balloon is a contender to put on your list. We're always charmed by artist/illustrator Jen Corace's work (see our post on Hansel and Gretel) and her imagery here is among the friendliest, happiest we've seen it (orange has that effect on people). The affirming story by Randall de Sève is charming as she convinces the reader that, indeed, a sheep can be an orange balloon. You'll just have to read it to see what we mean.