Review by Booklist Review
It's Ivan Vert's birthday. He doesn't want to take the family photo his grandma insists on, but he relents and puts his foot in the frame. When Grandmother Vert comments on Ivan's party-pooper-ness, Ivan's big sister, Estie, gets the grand idea to turn this family gathering into an actual party and invite their whole apartment building. Estie is a whirl of entertaining energy, but for Ivan, the party highlights include quietly washing dishes with his mom and hiding in a blanket fort. A version of "Ivan is Ivan, and Estie is Estie. Which is just the way we like it" becomes the story's refrain. Award-winning adult novelist and bookseller Patchett's (Escape Goat, 2020) third picture book has fun lines and deadpan dialogue. Glasser, illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series and Patchett's previous children's books, fills Ivan and Estie's story with busy, brightly colored, movement-filled scenes. The littlest readers aren't likely to latch on to the book's ideas of introvertedness and extrovertedness, but it's a diverting reminder that a party isn't everyone's idea of a good time and that's OK.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The similarities between pale-skinned siblings Estie and Ivan Vert begin and end with their curly brown hair--as their parents say, "Estie is Estie, and Ivan is Ivan." On Ivan's birthday, Estie impulsively throws a boisterous party, welcoming the family's neighbors to fill their living room. After dinner, Ivan retreats, first into the kitchen with their mother ("They stand side by side, Mrs. Vert washing a plate and Ivan drying. It's very nice"), then to his favorite place behind the sofa, where he sits reading a book under a blanket. Like the wise parents in this story, previous collaborators Patchett and Glasser (Escape Goat) don't favor either sibling. The text empathizes with Ivan's desire for quiet and solitude, while watercolor, gouache, and colored-pencil art shows the humdinger of a party that illustrates Estie's affinity with a crowd. What matters is the siblings' dual epiphany, articulated with emotional acuity: Ivan's solo happiness pleases Estie, "even though she'll never understand how a person wouldn't want a party," while "Ivan knows her heart is in the right place, even if she never listens to him." Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Acclaimed novelist Patchett teams up with Fancy Nancy illustrator Glasser for the tale of a young boy who withdraws during his birthday celebration. Mr. and Mrs. Vert and big sister Estie want to make the day special, but they fail to ask Ivan for his opinion. Extroverted Estie enthusiastically gathers all the apartment neighbors for a party, prompting introverted Ivan to slip away and hide. Estie parties away with her guests: dancing, making paper hats, and leading everyone in song once the candles are lit. When Estie finally discovers Ivan behind the couch, she feels unappreciated for all her birthday efforts, but she's touched to learn that what Ivan wants most is to hide away in a cozy fort with his sister. Despite Grandmother Vert's repeated prodding that each sibling should be more like the other, Mr. and Mrs. Vert gently support both of their children throughout the story and advocate for Ivan in important moments. Though the family's last name and the book's subtitle make clear to adult readers that this is a tale about introversion and extroversion, these words and definitions never appear within the story. Whimsically stylized illustrations evoke joy and movement. Each character's facial expression is dynamically wrought; Ivan's and Estie's are especially evocative. The Vert family reads white, while their neighbors are racially diverse and represent a variety of family structures. An affirming read that values introverts and extroverts alike, uplifting each for their unique qualities. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
