Recent Reads {noonie's masterpiece}

noonie's masterpiece by Lisa Railsback, with art by Sarajo Frieden - This was Kennady's lucky find on the 'new books' feature shelf at the library recently.  She was looking for something to read, but wasn't sure what she wanted, so I introduced her to the gamble of checking the feature shelves.  This time it definitely paid off, as she loved this book!  The book is full of whimsical drawings and artwork that illustrates the story. 

(Kennady gave me the details for this summary)  Noonie is a ten-year-old girl who is also an artist - an undiscovered and under-appreciated artist.  Her dad is an archaeologist and is traveling around the world, but Noonie believes if she can win an art contest he will come home.  She lives with her aunt and uncle and cousin, and has a best friend named Reno.  She wants to be discovered as an artist, and her dad has told her that her mom was an artist (her mom died when Noonie was very young).  At the start of the book she is in her "blue period" and moves into her "purple period" when she enters the contest.  Her family laugh at her painting, but Reno helps her get it ready for the contest.  She imagines many famous artist encouraging her.  Although she doesn't win a prize, her family think her painting is good after all, and her dad continues to encourage her by telling her about her mother's "polka-dot period." so she decides that her own "polka-dot period" will be even better than her "purple period!"