cover image A Visit to the Big House

A Visit to the Big House

Oliver Butterworth. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), $13.95 (46pp) ISBN 978-0-395-52805-1

Despite a perhaps flip title, this sober work of bibliotherapy attempts to articulate the emotionally confusing experience of youngsters with a parent in prison. Nervous about visiting their incarcerated father for the first time, Willy and Rose bombard their mother with questions (``Is he going to have chains on his arms and legs?'' Will he be wearing ``those pajama things with big stripes?''). Butterworth ( The Enormous Egg ) takes pains to depict a functional family coping with a serious problem, and to eschew harmful stereotypes. In view of the subject matter, however, a fair amount of moralizing laces the text (which was originally published as a pamphlet for prison families in Connecticut), as evidenced by the drawing Willy makes after the visit--``He looks a little sad because he's not at home with us. But not too sad, because he's doing the right thing, and he's learned something.'' Avishai's ( Sophie and the Sidewalk Man ) skillful pencil illustrations reinforce the text's family-oriented message, depicting tender interplay among the characters. Though the specialized subject matter will limit the book's overall appeal, the designated audience will no doubt receive it with enthusiasm. Ages 7-10. (Mar.)