A Recipe for Magic Potion

Kids cook up an elixir for youthfulness in this whimsically nostalgic picture book. Opening instructions emphasize the simplicity of the assignment: “To make a magic potion,/ you will need these things:/ A friend (or two or three)/ A bucket or a pot/ Or a hole/ And—ingredients.” The ensuing list of elements, secreted “all over the world,” lean on nature, from “a pinch of grass from a neighbour’s lawn” to “a rock from the water, cool to the touch.” With pale, earthy coloring, Horne’s smudgy, naif-style artwork zooms in and out of scenes featuring a pair of children relishing their outdoor explorations. The recipe’s final combination of stirs, words, and wishes produces the desired magic—a long-lasting sensorial memory that prompts gladdening reminiscences. Henseleit and Horne summon whimsical visions of imagination-fueled outdoor play. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3 and up. (Jan.)