Marsden often puts crafts like sewing or crocheting into her stories, and in many respects she is like a master craftsman, using words instead of stitches for her deceptively simple design. The embellishments come in the sensory details of life in the orphanage, on the street, and with the particulars of religious life.
—Booklist (starred review)
Another dream-come-true matchup: Oxenbury and her husband…The handsome, clear-lined images may seem retro at first, but the crispness acts as a containing presence for displacement fears and a source of narrative momentum—all the while allowing Oxenbury to exercise the full power of her visual magic.
—Publishers Weekly (starred)
Heavy paper, generous trim, amusing endpapers and, above all, beautifully evoked relationships combine for a winning package.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred)
