Bella and Stella Come Home

Anika Denise (2010), 40 pages

Illustrated by Christopher Denise

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Husband and wife team, Anika and Christopher Denise work in unison to create a gorgeous and thoughtful picture book. It’s moving day for a young girl named Bella. Holding Stella, her yellow stuffed elephant, Bella makes her way to the new house. As the duo check out their new home, they compare it to the old one … “Stella and I walk into the kitchen. It’s yellow. Our old kitchen was blue. Stella thinks kitchens should be blue. I do to.” The narrative reads like a true conversation and reflects a child’s mindset of uncertainty, doubt, and fear when moving. Stella the elephant alternates between being a small stuffed animal and a giant life-size elephant … a testament to the way a child might imagine her friend. Christopher Denise’s illustrations capture a range of emotion from a child’s worry (as Bella rides away in the car), fear (of sleeping in a new place), curiosity (touring the new house), and joy (meeting new friends) beautifully. There is a soft sensibility to the illustrations (almost comfort) especially as the soft pastel palette moves from day to night, –the images are luminous. Perhaps color and style were conscientious choices, as the subject of moving to a new neighborhood is often scary – this book feels like a warm pink-yellow hug. The author’s simple and poignant language keeps this a story even young preschoolers can understand. I also find her inclusion of Stella (the elephant) quite amusing; perhaps a characterization of the popular idiomatic expression “elephant in the room.” A wonderful story from start to end – and perfect choice for kids making new transitions and new friends.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Zuxu’s Wishing Cake by Linda Michelin, Rosa’s Room by Barbara Bottner, or We’re Moving (First-Time Stories) by Heather Maisner

Other books by this author: Pigs Love Potatoes

Other books by this author: Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat