Horn Book

The racially diverse and blended family (two sets of same-sex parents; seven children, both biological and adopted; and one grandfather) from The Lotterys Plus One returns in a story of a challenging Christmas season. Nine-year-old Sumac cherishes each and every one of her family’s holiday traditions, from attending The Nutcracker to marching in the Solstice Parade. But when a destructive ice storm hits Toronto—thwarting the return home of one dad and a favorite brother and knocking the power out, forcing the Lotterys to leave their home, “Camelottery,” and split up in order to find alternative temporary housing—new traditions must be born. As ever, there’s an abundance of quirkiness and wordplay that borders on excess, but the warmth, humor, and affection in both the text and the textured black-and-white illustrations are undeniable. martha v. parravano