PB Review: The Secret of the Magic Pearl
The Secret of the Magic Pearl by Elisa Sabatinelli, trans. by Christopher Turner, illus. by Iacopo Bruno (Red Comet Press, 92p., ages 6-10, 9781636550060)
The Secret of the Magic Pearl is a warmhearted tale of wonder, imagination and love for the sea, enhanced by fabulous, surreal illustrations.
Hector wants to be a deep-sea diver just like his dad. The boy's family used to run the marina, a place where "divers from up and down the coast came to meet," but Amedeo Limonta, "the bad guy in this story," built a rival complex next door and forced Hector's family out of business. When Hector turns eight, his dad takes him on his first deep-sea expedition, which is "like being on another planet." On the seabed, Hector notices a flashing light--the legendary Pearl, or "soul of the sea." His family decides to share this elusive beauty by exhibiting it for a time, but they understand they will eventually "have to take the Pearl back to the sea." Greedy Amedeo Limonta, however, wants it as his own.
Christopher Turner's translation of Elisa Sabatinelli's original Italian text is a fanciful ode to sailors, divers and the wonders of the sea that includes a touch of intrigue, a satisfying tale of friendship and a welcome caution against greed. Iacopo Bruno's lavish, colorful full-page and spot illustrations provide a visual feast, adding extraordinary elements to the text. There is even beauty hidden beneath the dust jacket, a fitting touch for a book that so nicely celebrates beauty beneath the sea. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger and children's book author.
Discover: In this warmhearted, beautifully illustrated tale, a boy finds the legendary Pearl on his first deep-sea dive and must keep it safe from a greedy rival.
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