Twelfth night

Ellinas undertakes the daunting task of retelling Shakespeare's Twelfth Night within the confines of a picture book and succeeds beautifully, her text illustrated and expanded by Ray's lovely watercolor pictures. The story of Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, is one of mistaken identity (and gender identity). When Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian, are shipwrecked, each thinks the other dead. Viola disguises herself as a young man, Cesario, and finds employment with Duke Orsino, who pines for the beautiful Countess Olivia and, to court her, tasks Cesario with delivering his love letters. Olivia then falls in love with Cesario, who, by this time, has fallen in love with Orsino. Complicated enough? But wait, there's more. Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's hedonistic uncle, and her servant Maria play a practical joke on Olivia's misanthropic steward, Malvolio, convincing him Olivia is in love with him. More complications! And then Sebastian shows up. What next? Ellinas' charming retelling is a good introduction for young readers just dipping a toe into Shakespeare, who, appropriately, has the last word: "Journeys end in lovers meeting."

Feste the clown/fool is our tour guide in this retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He is uniquely suited to this job because, as he says, he's the only person who knows "what is going on and who is fooling whom." In a prose text, he introduces us to the mix-and-match merry-making, love lost and found, cross-dressing, plots-gone-wrong, and general bewilderment of Illyria, as well as tidily conveying not only the hilarity of the story but also some of its darker emotional implications such as the undoing of Malvolio. At the most tangled moment of the Olivia/Orsino/Sebastian/Viola mix-up, Feste declares: "It was difficult to know whom to feel sorrier for as they were all so confused and upset." This genial introduction to the play is a good choice for young theatergoers but is also a fine picture book in its own right, maximizing the theatrical nature of picture books. The watercolor illustrations in jewel-like colors and energetic compositions are reminiscent of the work of Tomie dePaola, and the casual diversity of the characters is a welcome touch. Like the play, the final scene has its lonely note. We see everybody happily coupled except an aging Feste, who sits secluded with his lute, his hand puppet, and his beruffed dog. Sarah EllisMay/June 2024 p.127 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ellinas introduces young readers to the characters and key plot points of a beloved Shakespearean comedy. Feste the Fool tells the story of Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian, who are separated after a shipwreck. To stay safe, Viola disguises herself as a man called Cesario. She's hired by Duke Orsino to convey his passionate messages to the grieving Countess Olivia. Cesario falls in love with Orsino, while Olivia falls for Cesario. Secondary characters and plotlines all get their due, including Sir Toby and Maria's plot against Malvolio. As in the play, Sebastian eventually returns, all confusions are resolved, Viola drops her Cesario persona, and nearly everyone pairs off happily. Watercolor illustrations depict period-appropriate costumes and settings, with characters theatrically facing readers. Most characters have pale or tan skin; Olivia has brown skin and tight curls, and Orsino is tan with wavy black hair. Feste's first-person narration is prescriptive, leaving little room for readers' own interpretations, and while young people will get a firm sense of the story, they may not be all that engaged. Though the pervasive theme of fools and foolery is an obvious one, framing anyone who "did not see through Cesario's disguise" as foolish is a missed opportunity for a queerer reading of the Orsino/Cesario/Olivia love triangle. A straightforward adaptation with appealing illustrations but lacking in emotional resonance. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.