Meeselphe

Praise

“When [Meeselphe] leaves her house-tree one day to explore a phantasmagorical landscape portrayed in sprightly, clear lines, she befriends a “sadbandoned” baby bird and coolly answers riddles posed by a series of blobby monsters . . . Waters and Kerlidou deal creatively with puns and invented words (“confusifying”) in this surrealist excursion that builds . . . to a final triumphant showdown.” –– Publishers Weekly

“Meeselphe’s admirably straight and bristle-like hairdo remains as upright as the girl’s resolve throughout a series of strange encounters . . . Readers who enjoy imaginative fare and adventure tales will return to this book many times . . . Illustrations are a blend of the fanciful and realistic, with an emphasis on the fanciful . . . It may remind one of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” – Children’s Literature

“Fans of Seussical nonsense or Sendak’s art style will find comfort in Claude Ponti’s whimsical fable-worlds. The gift is in their completeness. The action picks right up – Meeselphe decides to venture out of her treetop for an exploration . . . Meeselphe’s lessons of exploration and generosity explain that we are uniquely a part of this strange place.” – Luke Steere, Youth Services Book Review


“Ponti weaves language like a master puppeteer, turning ordinary words into whimsical spells . . . The illustrations burst with color and imagination, inviting readers to linger and explore . . . Meeselphe embodies curiosity, resilience, and the magic of embracing the unknown . . . So, dear reader, grab your own bristly hair (real or imagined), leap into the unknown, and discover the magic that awaits.” — Momma Braga blog

“There is so much to love in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed that it was not sparse in language. The abundance of language and repetitions add to the cadence and enjoyment of reading Meeselphe aloud . . . Readers are invited to accompany Meeselphe on her adventure, to be carried from one sentence to the next like a carnival ride, to marvel at all she discovers, and to take their time considering them.” –– Michelle Nott