THE BROKEN ORNAMENT
Written and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon and Schuster
diterlizzi.com
When it comes to conjuring fantasy worlds, few do it better than Tony DiTerlizzi.
The Amherst illustrator has been widely recognized for his work in children’s books like “The Spiderwick Chronicles” and games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. He’s created all manner of imaginary creatures over the years — fairies, trolls, dwarves, elves and other figures.
DiTerlizzi is also a respected children’s author who won a Caldecott Medal for his 2002 picture book “The Spider and the Fly.” In his newest book, “The Broken Ornament,” he offers a more straightforward narrative, in a holiday tale that also embraces some magic.
Jack is a young boy excited not just about Christmas, but making this year’s holiday “the best ever.”
That means everything must be bigger and brighter — more ornaments on the tree, more decorations on his family’s front lawn, and a bigger Christmas tree because “Santa needs more room underneath to leave us more presents!”
Trouble comes when Jack insists on putting one more glittery ornament on the tree. His mother says “No!” and then leaves the room sobbing after the ornament shatters on the floor when Jack accidentally drops it.
A mysterious, shimmering figure appears above the broken shards: a mischievous fairy named Tinsel who’s happy to grant Jack his wishes for more Christmas excess — reindeer, marching nutcrackers, rowdy snowmen — but who also shows him a glimpse of why his mother was so upset. Now it’s up to Jack to try to make things right with some real Christmas spirit and love.
“The Broken Ornament,” which features a bit of a retro, Norman Rockwell-ish look (and a touch of anime), offers a timely message as well. Publishers Weekly says: “The author delivers a sound, easily relatable lesson about the perils of greed — and the essence of Christmas — as Jack devises a way to make amends in the story’s heartwarming finale.”
JUST ADD GLITTER
By Angela DiTerlizzi
Illustrated by Samantha Cotterill
Beach Lane Books
angeladiterlizzi.com
There’s more than one talented DiTerlizzi in Amherst. Angela DiTerlizzi, Tony’s better half, is the author of nine books for very young readers, and her rhyming text and bright storylines have won recognition from several outlets; Buzzfeed named “Some Bugs,” done with illustrator Brendan Wenzel, one of the best picture books of 2013.
In her newest book, “Just Add Glitter,” DiTerlizzi relates the tale of a young girl with a handmade crown who, at the start of the story, looks out her window at a drab, rainy landscape. But what’s this? A letter carrier has left a mysterious package on the front step; turns out it’s filled with bottles of glitter.
Soon the young protagonist is adding gobs of sparkly color to her crown, her house and the pages of the book. But, much like Jack discovers in “The Broken Ornament,” there’s a lesson here about more not necessarily being better, and that there’s a line between creativity and simple excess.
The artwork in “Just Add Glitter” includes a mix of drawn, cut-paper and digitally colored illustrations, and as Kirkus Reviews writes, “the jaunty text makes for a lively read-aloud, complete with the repeatable, titular refrain, ‘Just add glitter!’”