05/01/2017
After a mother gives five cherries to her two children, eating them is almost the farthest thing from their minds. Initially, Italian author-illustrator Facchini appears to be setting up a Goofus and Gallant scenario in her U.S. debut. “What am I gonna do with only 5 cherries?” moans one child. The other is grateful and excited: “Thanks, Mom, all these? So many?” But both quickly fall under the spell of the cherries, and they regale each other (and readers) with their ever-changing plans for them. “I’ll be a jester! And I’ll do a jiggety-jester-jig,” shouts one, dancing with abandon as the long-stemmed berries resemble the dangling bells of a jester’s cap. The other child takes a quieter path on a opposite page, setting up an impromptu imaginary tea party. The children’s genders aren’t specified, and they’re so similar in appearance that it isn’t always clear who’s who—and it doesn’t matter in the least. Facchini’s wildly expressive paintings—part Ralph Steadman, part Chris Raschka—immerse readers in the siblings’ vivid scenarios, games, and interactions. It’s a vibrant reminder of the almost boundless capacity of a child’s imagination. Ages 5–8. (June)
"Facchini’s wildly expressive paintings—part Ralph Steadman, part Chris Raschka—immerse readers in the siblings’ vivid scenarios, games, and interactions. It’s a vibrant reminder of the almost boundless capacity of a child’s imagination."— Publishers Weekly
"Painterly figures against plenty of white space—and those gorgeous, red cherries—invite readers into their own fruit-fueled fantasies."—Kirkus Reviews
"5 Cherries is a beautiful, meandering exploration of the power of imagination and play to bring people together, no matter their differences. Facchini's art is deliciously child-like and frolicsome and full of delightful visual cues that will prompt rereadings to catch all the fun details. This is a book to ponder over; a book to spark little imaginations."— Hannah DeCamp, Children's Buyer, Avid Bookshop
"This is an unusual and quirky story from Italian author/illustrator Vittoria Facchini, translated by Anna Celada. She cleverly shows the contrast in the siblings’ personalities – one plans to eat them all at once while the other is happy to look at them because they are so pretty. Through her exuberant and expressive artwork it also encapsulates the limitless capacity of a child’s imagination." —Outside in World
"Give a brother and sister a gift of five cherries each from father's cherry tree and see what kind of fun and games (or mischief) they can devise, how their needs and differences play out. After their adventures are over you may wonder what you would have done, too."—Vermont Country Sampler
"'5 Cherries' is an ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition to family, preschool, day care center, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4 to 8."—Midwest Book Review
08/01/2017
PreS-Gr 3—What would you do with five red cherries? Facchini follows two young siblings as they are each given five fresh red cherries. Is five cherries plenty or simply not enough? One child is immediately excited with the endless possibilities. The other is disappointed. Why so few? But their imaginations soon take over as they explore the many uses for their cherished cherries. "I'll be a jester! And I'll do a jiggety-jester-jig," says one sibling. The other declares: "I'll share mine with my friends. Everything's ready. They're coming to tea." As the pages turn, the children seem to blend together, and it becomes increasingly difficult to tell one from the other. By the end, both the children and readers are left wanting more. The bright, floral paintings, beginning and ending on the inside covers, are bursting with color to help give life to this inventive tale. The engagingly stylized pictures dance across plain white pages and tell a story of their own. In the end, readers are left wondering at the possibilities of just five more minutes. VERDICT A thought-provoking and imaginative story that is beautifully illustrated. Best shared one-on-one or with a small group.—Elizabeth Blake, Brooklyn Public Library
2017-05-01
A mother gives her two unnamed children five cherries each—they won't last long. Or will they? The children are identical—white with dark, straight hair in bowl cuts, both wearing black-and-white-striped tops and black pants—except for the ribbons tied around their outsized heads (one red, one blue) and their shoes (black Mary Janes and white sneakers, respectively), so smudgily painted many readers will miss them. As they play, they shed both ribbons and shoes, becoming nigh indistinguishable. At first they are very different in attitude, though. One complains, "What am I gonna do with only 5 cherries?" The other celebrates: "I'm gonna do a ton of things with these 5 cherries." Though the blue-ribboned child declares, "I'm gonna eat them all at once," while stuffing them in, there's a lot more playing than eating going on. Readers will wonder whether Mom, off-page, supplies more, or perhaps the children pick them for themselves, as the cherries seem not to run out, at least not permanently, and they take a lot of punishment. The fruits are used as pretend medals, ammunition in toy cannon, pie filling, and—in a perfectly childlike moment—tiny pretend breasts, among other deployments. The children move beyond stereotypical gendered play to creative endeavors, harmoniously cooperative in their absorption. Painterly figures against plenty of white space—and those gorgeous, red cherries—invite readers into their own fruit-fueled fantasies. (Picture book. 3-6)
