3 out of 4 stars
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The Adventures of Riley and Elfy by E. Matheson is an illustrated children’s book. The two main characters, Riley and Elfy Uist, are rabbit-like creatures who live on an island. This fifty-five-page book is a collection of four standalone stories about various encounters the Uists have with other animals on the island. In the stories, the siblings make new friends, go on a fishing trip, encounter a frightening foe and even build a submarine!
The most appealing aspects of this book are the illustrations. Hand drawn in earthy, naturalistic tones, G.B. Serafica’s illustrations are reminiscent of those found in the classic series Frog and Toad. Each animal is drawn with realistic detail, and most of the scenic images encompass a full page. Further, the narrative text typically appears on an adjacent white page; however, in the few cases where the text overlaps with the illustration, the text is strategically placed and does not detract from the meticulously drawn images.
An overarching theme of friendship can be found throughout each of the four stories. Young children will enjoy reading about Riley and Elfy supporting their friends, like when the two help a lost baby seal. Similarly, readers will be touched by the generosity of the other animals, like when Elfy finds herself in danger and is assisted by a dear friend. In general, each of the four stories is heartwarming, and the theme of friendship is organically intertwined within each story; it never feels as though the author is forcing a point on the reader.
As a whole, The Adventures of Riley and Elfy is long for a children’s book, but the individual stories are the perfect length for a bedtime read. Although the book includes some higher-level vocabulary words, like "loch" and "croft," these words are all defined within the text, making this book suitable for a young audience. I recommend this book be read to children aged three to seven; the universal themes of friendship make this book suitable for all children in this age range.
Unfortunately, this book needs another round of editing. The majority of the errors I encountered were related to improperly punctuated dialogue. These errors did not hinder the flow of the narrative, though they were noticeable. Lastly, the book is missing a table of contents. Since the book is a collection of four different stories, a guide would have been helpful.
Overall, The Adventures of Riley and Elfy is a book I would love to have in hardcopy. I can see myself reading the stories in this book to my children again and again, and the illustrations are simply beautiful. However, the editorial mishaps force me to give this book 3 out of 4 stars. With another round of editing, this will easily be a four-star book.
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The Adventures Of Riley & Elfy
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