PRESTATO A NICOLA PARENTI IL 4-LUGLIO 2022 RESTITUITO IL 3/09/2022

I understand the message the book is trying to convey but it is a little odd. ( )

Five misfit friends, each of whom is flawed in a different ways - one has holes in his body, another is folded in half, a third is intensely lethargic, a fourth is upside down, and a fifth is just wrong - lead a peaceful life together doing nothing. Then one day a smooth stranger appears, who seems perfect in every way. The Perfect One seems to think that the five need a purpose, and is appalled went they don't really want to do anything. Fortunately, the five are happy to be just who they are...

A sweet tale about accepting yourself, flaws and all, The 5 Misfits was originally published in Italy as I cinque malfatti, and features a cast of matter-of-factly quirky characters, and author/illustrator Beatrice Alemagna's distinctive mixed media/collage artwork. I don't know that I enjoyed the story here quite as much as in The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy (the only other Alemagna title I have read thus far), but I did find the artwork quite entertaining. I see that Alemagna has a weakness for a certain shade of bright pink, which she worked into the artwork here, as well as in 'Squishy,' and the result is unexpectedly appealing, providing a nice contrast to some of her subtler shades. I liked her use of paper cuttings to create some of the visuals here as well, as I always appreciate it when extraneous text finds its way into the illustrations. Recommended to anyone looking for quirky but charming stories addressing the importance of being yourself, and accepting your own imperfections. ( )