Betty and the Mysterious Visitor

Anne Twist, Emily Sutton (Illustrator)

$17.99

Publication Date: September 5th, 2023

Publisher:

Candlewick

ISBN:

9781536234862

Pages:

Otto Bookstore

1 on hand, as of Apr 28 9:14pm

(Juvenile Fiction )

On Our Shelves Now

Description

An exciting debut author, beloved on social media, spins a delightful homegrown mystery for young readers

Betty loves visiting Grandma and playing in her beautiful garden, Acorn Hollows. It is her most favorite place in the whole world! Together they tend to Grandma’s wildflowers and berry bushes, and even make jam to sell at the local farmers market. But when a mysterious creature starts destroying the Hollows, Betty is determined to find a way to stop it. Can she come up with a plan to save their beloved garden?
Debut author Anne Twist creates a truly touching celebration of nature and time spent together, lovingly brought to life by renowned illustrator Emily Sutton’s exuberant, joyful images.

About the Author

Anne Twist was inspired to write Betty and the Mysterious Visitor, her first children’s book, by her own family’s love of reading and sharing stories. When her children were little, she read aloud to them constantly, especially at bedtime. After the death of her husband in 2017, Twist turned to writing poetry as a way of navigating her feelings of grief and loss. Her garden in the countryside of Cheshire, England, brought her peace as her craft grew and was the place where this story first bloomed. She hopes her debut book becomes a bedtime favorite. Follow Anne Twist on Instagram @AnneTwist and Twitter @MrsAnneTwist.

Emily Sutton graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a degree in illustration. She is the illustrator of Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes, Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth, Grow: Secrets of Our DNA, and The First Book of the Sea, all written by Nicola Davies, as well as The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy. In addition to illustrating picture books, she paints, sculpts, and designs prints. Emily Sutton lives in England. Follow Emily Sutton on Instagram @EmilySuttonArtist.

Praise for Betty and the Mysterious Visitor

Debut author Twist sneaks rhyme into prose lines (the badger “snuffled and sniffled and scurried along, searching for treats that were tasty and strong”) and keeps the energy high in a storybook vignette that demonstrates a child coming up with a solution. The tale’s focus on independent problem-solving is rooted in a sense of domestic security and abundance that’s supported by visual layers of pattern and color.
—Publishers Weekly

Sutton’s bright watercolors elevate the story, with cheerful scenes of the garden, village, and market. . . . A satisfying tale of a child’s resourcefulness.
—Kirkus Reviews

The sweet little mystery is both snug and suspenseful, and the charming text is filled with delightful phrasing. . . . The glorious watercolor illustrations nearly steal the show; they’re a riot of color, overflowing with detail, and young readers can spend ages taking in the minutiae on each pretty spread. The wonderful Wobbly Bottom is well worth the visit.
—Booklist

This picture book debut is an exciting and engaging storytime read that feels like an instant classic. Emily Sutton’s art paired with Anne Twist’s celebration of nature tells of a little girl determined to stop a creature from destroying her grandma’s garden.
—The Barnes & Noble Reads Blog