Maud and the Very Eventful Week
Age 5+
Children's & Young Adult Fiction & True Stories
Who would have known on Monday that the week ahead would be such a busy one? It all starts when Maud finds a teapot that is obviously haunted (and very hungry). EEEK! The days continue with Maud’s attempt to sell spiders (and juice) from a sidewalk stand; a mega-toothy discovery; a ghost family taking over the dollhouse; and a visit to Agnes the witch, who brews up a dynamite soup. Then comes Maud’s yard sale, which is a lot of work but a great success, rounding out a very full week. But wait, could that be a teapot coming around again, on Sunday? In this slightly gothic tour through the days of the week, the delight is in the details as illustrations portray Maud and her family and friends among the familiar objects and activities of childhood, with just enough of a quirky twist to please the young vampire lovers among us.
Creators
Lisa Anchin is an illustrator, author, and designer. She has long had a literary love of vampires and often ran around in a red cape and fangs as a child, not only on Halloween. She is the author-illustrator of the picture book The Little Green Girl, which won a Crystal Kite Award, and the illustrator of a number of other books for children. When not in her studio stringing words together and doodling, she loves meeting other kidlit folks and has long volunteered as the illustration coordinator for the Metro New York chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Lisa Anchin lives in Brooklyn with her family.
Reviews
Maud is genuinely lovable. . . . The worldbuilding feels effortless; though populated with mummies, wolves, and other supernatural creatures, this neighborhood is as loving as any real-life community. . . . Cozy, witty, and brimming with charm—a perfect introduction to chapter books for spooky-loving young readers.
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Dapper series launch. . . . It’s a perfect seasonal setting for humor, curiosity, and a bit of creepiness to take wing.
Publishers Weekly
The hand-drawn illustrations are lovely, done with pen, ink, gouache, and digital color. Gentle spreads done in muted tones make conventionally scary things like skeletons and cursed teapots seem charming, rendering the story more accessible for younger readers.
School Library Journal
