The Great Escape

“Lilting prose and detailed, luminous art make for an adventure readers will eagerly dive into again and again… A glorious look at the often-frustrating nature of family dynamics—and the power of magic.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The children, rendered in watercolor and ink, fly, tumble, and ride seahorses across textured, richly colored sea- and skyscapes. Children will recognize the feelings of frustration with siblings and the wish to escape, and Marcero gives them a wide-open, imaginary landscape to discover when they do so.” —The Horn Book, starred review

“The use of images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, combined with traditional mediums, makes the story feel both magical and rooted in reality. A fantastical book that will remind readers (older siblings in particular) about the importance of cherishing time with family.” —Booklist, starred review

“Wildly inventive … Mixed media art seamlessly blends a playful cartoony style with ethereal beauty … There’s a Wild Rumpus look to Evie’s sibs, dressed as they are in animal onesies and frolicking in the evening-colored palette; youngsters may find this pretend world as appealing as Sendak’s classic.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

“A delightfully creative reading experience that whisks young readers away on a grand adventure… The Great Escape offers young readers a cosmic quest overflowing with magic and wonder.” —BookPage, starred review

“Marcero’s striking illustrations, playful use of form, and rhythmically onomatopoeic text elevate this picture book … Graphic novel-style panels and vignettes in muted colors cleverly reinforce the ordinary; a drastic shift to an unrestrained palette along with a new reading experience (the reader must turn the book upside down and around) captures the extraordinary.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

* “This is a fantasy plucked straight from the heart of childhood play. The winning narrative is anchored by several strong design choices; the format of the illustrations beautifully supports the story’s emotional arc… A cozy, cleverly constructed adventure, recommended for all collections.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Luminous… the best magic isn’t about making problems disappear but rather finding new ways to orient to them.” —Publishers Weekly

Deborah Marcero is the author and illustrator of the picture books In a Jar, which was called “stunning” in a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and “beguiling” by the Wall Street Journal; Out of a Jar, which was an Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Year and an ALA Notable Children’s Book; and Hope in a Jar; as well as the board book Little Bunny, Spring Is Here!. She also wrote and illustrated the picture book My Heart Is a Compass and the Haylee and Comet emerging reader series.

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