Hilda and the Midnight Giant

*Starred Review* Pearson has received well-deserved acclaim for his Hilda series, and each volume is a stellar example of sequential storytelling. In this installment, Hilda joins the Sparrow Scouts and sets out to win her camping badge. Following a lively, humorous montage, she's finally ready to head off, but once on-site, she is distracted by a homeless nisse, or house spirit. Every time selfless, brave Hilda tries to help the poor sprite, she gets in trouble. And that's not the only problem a giant black hound has been stalking the Scandinavian city, and soon there are homeless nisses everywhere. Could the two mysterious occurrences be linked? Hilda seems to be the only one with the patience and sense of wonder to solve the mystery. In gorgeous, oversize pages filled with warm jewel tones, Pearson's varied panel layouts and detailed, purplish backgrounds artfully carry emotional weight and subtle humor in equal measure. The house spirits are all nose and hair, while the black hound looms as a menacingly large shadow in the forest. Hilda is, as always, a charming hero, from the top of her blue-haired head to the bottom of her slouchy red boots. Every volume of this fairy-tale-adventure series is a must-have.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2014 Booklist