Angel and the Paper Trail

Makenzie Hice is a freelance writer and children's book author.Natasja Horna is an illustrator from the Netherlands based in Sydney Australia where she lives with her husband, two busy boys, and a ball-crazy french bulldog. She likes to dream up characters in a world with rich layers, textures, and a touch of whimsy.

"A shy new student looking for a book finds some new friends instead. Angel wants the bright orange book lying on top of the library shelves, but he’s too short to reach it. Summoning his courage, he asks taller classmate Oliver for help, and a note falls out of the book: “I hope your day is as bright and sweet as this shining sun.” Oliver immediately sees this as a mystery to solve and takes Angel around to his various friends at recess in an attempt to find the note’s author…and along the way introducing Angel. The handwriting looks like Rose’s, the picture of the sun like something Bea would draw, and the hearts over the I’s are Miles’ specialty. But none are the author. And then the wind steals the note away. Saddened by the end of the investigation, Angel thinks of something to do with his new friends that will also benefit other new kids like him: They craft a note of their own to place in a library book. Horne’s illustrations are charming, the children’s body language and facial expressions saying everything as new friendships form. Angel is light-skinned, Oliver is tan-skinned, and Bea and Miles are brown-skinned. While this method of welcoming children is slower to work than a buddy bench, it’s still a unique and doable idea. A love note to shy new kids." - Kirkus Reviews