Penelope Crumb

In this auspicious series launch, fourth-grader Penelope first learns that she has an oversize nose in art class. When a distraught Penelope shares this information with her mother, Penelope learns that she has the “Crumb nose” like her Grandpa Felix, who Penelope had always believed was “Graveyard Dead” like her father. This revelation, along with a school assignment to create a family coat of arms, sends Penelope on a search for her grandfather. After a few red herrings, Penelope finds Grandpa Felix and uncovers some family history. Stout (the Fiona Finkelstein books) deals with serious topics, such as the hole left in Penelope’s life by her father’s death, with a light touch, giving Penelope a memorable narrative voice full of quirks. (An aspiring artist, Penelope is “real good at telling what different kinds of faces mean,” so she fully recognizes when her mother is giving her “a look that says, We Are Not Going to Talk About This Anymore.”) Docampo contributes angular and stylized b&w images of Penelope (and her beaky schnoz) that add to the heroine’s considerable personality. Ages 7–10. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary Agency. (Aug.)