★ 12/18/2017
Bus driver Bert Brown feels like he’s having a heart attack at work, but the fluttering in his chest turns out to be a tiny angel lodged in his pocket. When a stunned Bert brings the creature home to his wife, Betty, she knows just what to do: fix him dinner, make him a little bed, and give him a fitting name. It doesn’t take long for the angel, whom they name Angelino, to become a beloved member of the couple’s family, as well as a popular student at the school where Betty works. But two villains are watching the angel’s every move, waiting for the opportunity to kidnap him. Almond (Harry Miller’s Run) once again works his magic to draw readers into a world of wonderful possibilities and dreadful obstacles, captured in Smith’s whimsical pencil drawings. He makes it clear that heroes, villains, and angels alike are products of their environments, and that a little nurturing (or angel companionship) is the best way to improve a person’s attitude and behavior. Almond’s dry wit will bring smiles, and his underlying message about good and evil may shake up some preconceived notions. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)
Angelino Brown—an actual angel—finds a home and grows into a real boy in Almond's latest. Almond's not-overly-reverent look at the transformative power of a pure heart is both sweet and broad-humored...A wise and tender comical adventure.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
This charming story weaves slapstick humor and fart jokes with passages of surprising beauty and depth, hinting at darker troubles without sacrificing child-appropriate levity...A quirky addition to middle grade shelves.
—School Library Journal
In a style reminiscent of Roald Dahl, with over-the-top baddies and determined young heroes and heroines, this narrative at times speaks directly to the reader, encouraging them to think about the underlying themes that are portrayed, sometimes subtly. Particularly relevant is the issue of bullies, what makes them, and what can change them. Smith’s illustrations add to the fun, and despite the levity, there’s depth here that will generate discussion as well as giggles.
—Booklist
01/01/2018
Gr 4–6—Bert and Betty Brown are tired of their humdrum lives; Bert drives a bus, Betty cooks for schoolchildren, and the couple is still grieving the loss of their young son. But all this changes when Bert discovers a tiny, innocent boy-angel in his shirt pocket and takes him home. The angel, whom they name Angelino, creates joy and chaos in a struggling school and is angel-napped by a young man named Kevin trying to prove himself a villain. Kevin's attempts at dastardly deeds and the ensuing rescue mission provide a handy plot structure, while queries about the angel's existence gently raise larger theological questions. This charming story weaves slapstick humor and fart jokes with passages of surprising beauty and depth, hinting at darker troubles without sacrificing child-appropriate levity. The ensemble of plucky schoolchildren and bumbling adults is somewhat forgettable, but the book's evocative tone resonates more than the story line would indicate. VERDICT A quirky addition to middle grade shelves.—Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City
★ 2017-12-03
Angelino Brown—an actual angel—finds a home and grows into a real boy in Almond's latest.Almond's not-overly-reverent look at the transformative power of a pure heart is both sweet and broad-humored. Bert Brown is generally disgruntled with driving his bus ("Passengers! Who invented passengers?"), but then he finds a small angel in his pocket. Somehow the day gets better. Angelino, as Bert and his kind wife, Betty, name the winged child, is fond of such foods as cake and gumdrops, and he farts gently with some frequency. At school, where Betty is the cook, Angelino confides to young Nancy, "I don't know who I am," but he plays soccer with heart despite his size. Bert and Betty, who lost a child long ago; students Nancy Miller, Alice Obi, and Jack Fox; and the lovely art teacher, Ms. Monteverdi, become Angelino's champions and defenders. Most characters appear to be white, but Alice is illustrated with dark skin and hair arranged in puffballs, and school secretary Samantha Cludd, also dark-skinned, wears a headscarf. Almond pokes fun at the self-important and the needlessly important, employing terrifically silly names: for example, Professor Smellie (formerly of the University of Blithering-on-the-Fen). A badly behaved pair of young men kidnaps Angelino, hoping to sell him to the highest bidder, but Basher, a bully as a boy and worse now, represents the dark side of the heart and brings out Angelino's fighting spirit.A wise and tender comical adventure. (Fantasy. 7-10)
The day Bert Brown finds that the fluttering in his chest isn’t a heart attack but the wings of a small angel is the start of something wonderful. Bert and his wife, Nancy, take in Angelino, the angel, and Nancy enrolls him at the school where she works. Author David Almond’s narration is the highlight of a story demonstrating that all people can grow and learn to love when they encounter a true and caring soul. Almond provides a variety of accents for the characters, who include villainous pupils and potentially dastardly teachers. In particular, he makes the most of Professor Smellie’s lisp, a mannerism that perfectly offsets the teacher’s grandiose claims. Almond’s audiobook, which is reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s works in tone, will appeal to children and families. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
