Pinny in Fall

Schwartz (Town Is by the Sea) introduces each stage of this pensive tale through chapter headings. In “A Chilly Morning,” Pinny, an impish, blonde child, observes “the air getting colder, little by little, day by day.” Packing a small bag, she takes a journey to the shore in “Wind and Fog,” meeting her friends Annie and Lou along the way. In the next episode (“The Lighthouse”), they assist the lighthouse keeper in leading a boat through thickening fog. Back home, Pinny observes “A Special Kind of Rain”—a shower of autumn leaves falling outside her window. Malenfant illustrates in a delicate style, with figures and landscapes rendered in misty pastels and wispy lines. Schwartz dreamily captures the small wonders of childhood and the air of magic that can accompany season’s change. Ages 4–7. [em](Aug.) [/em]