When Nanushka the cat didn’t show up for Saturday’s show,
Clive and Sydney knew something was wrong.
“Nanushka is missing!” they cried. “Where could she be?!” What could they do?
Lovable, dancing armadillos Clive and Sydney, who star with Nanushka at the Pine Tree Forest Theater, end up going on quite an exciting adventure searching for their friend Nanushka. Do the clues provided by Marsha the fox or Jessie the chimp hold the key? Is Jack the aardvark willing and able to help? And then there’s that huge, spine-chilling snake they meet face to face when they’re lost in the forest. Not to mention Sydney’s scary ordeal . . .
Do they find Nanushka?
Not only will kids be captivated by this delightful and unique animal story, they’ll also be treated to the gorgeous, vibrant illustrations by award-winning Canadian illustrator Tamara Campeau.
This beautifully illustrated children’s picture book, Nanushka Is Missing!, is the first book in the forthcoming series, The Adventures of Clive & Sydney, the Dancing Armadillos, and offers more than an adventure. It’s complete with valuable messages of friendship, courage, trust, loyalty, and love. (Lots of Social Emotional Learning (SEL)!)
Stevens credits her collaborator Jesús García with the creation of the armadillos and their feline choreographer, as well as the appealing overall design of her debut picture book. Stevens’s story quickly pulls Clive and Sydney out of their comfort zone, putting the lighthearted dancers on a journey that forces them to confront fears of inadequacy and abandonment. With more text than usual for young readers (ages 4-7), she describes their mindset in detail, as potential predators become unexpected allies. Clive and Sydney have taken much for granted, and their impetuous adventure makes them realize just how much they value Nanushka.
Illustrator Tamara Campeau works digitally but expertly employs texture and fluid colors so that images of a lush forest appear to be watercolors soaked in thick, fibrous paper. Sydney is a squat Southern three-banded armadillo who can roll up into a ball, while Clive’s long snout and tail are typical nine-banded armadillo traits, and Campeau uses these characteristics to emphasize their different personalities. There’s expressive movement in their armored bodies,and their faces contain the gradations–from pathos to exhilaration–of a Laurel and Hardy comedy team. Clive and Sydney’s search for Nanushka is both a tactile adventure and an emotional journey of friendship that gives young readers a reassuring vision of mutual support.
Takeaway: On an adventure, armadillos explore their own insecurities and re-commit to longstanding friendships.
Great for fans of: Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson’s Armadillo Antics, Thomas Amoriello Jr.’s A Journey to Guitarland with Maestro Armadillo, and Jan Brett’s Armadillo Rodeo.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
