Publication: Night of the Five Aunties

• Somer, Mesa
• Palmer, Kate

LCCN: 95-32021

Annie and Alfie have five aunts, none of whom have ever
visited at the same time. When Annie and Alfie's mother
gets a strange phone call about Aunt Ruby Dee, all five
aunts appear a few days later, with some uncles in tow.
Annie and Alfie are puzzled by the accompanying
pandemonium. Adults will understand the mysterious (at
least to children) conversations and behavior of the
aunties and uncles, but it is difficult to predict how long
a young reader would be willing to follow the "strange"
actions to learn the story's resolution. Annie and Alfie
exist mainly to observe the action' rather than participate
in it, which is not particularly satisfying. However, Night
of the Five Aunties does prove that odd things do happen in
all families; but that eccentricities don't matter as long
as there is love. Palmer's bright and quirky illustrations
are well chosen for the text.