The Fountain

“It all started on a Tuesday morning with a hat,” begins Loffredo’s English-language debut, a visually inviting fable of magic-tinged abundance. That’s when the town fountain, a tiered affair topped by two impish water-spouting figures, begins performing absurd acts of generosity. The aforementioned chapeau is the first item to appear in the pool, and it’s quickly followed by a plethora of gifts ranging from the utilitarian (yarn and gardening tools) to the inconvenient (mountains of bananas, tons of mismatched shoes), all rendered in a cheerful yellow. The bestowals cause as much chaos as delight, and they prompt villagers to discover hobbies and talents (ping-pong, stargazing) as well as chat daily around the objects’ source. And when the fountain suddenly vanishes, they realize that the true reward is not material accumulation but the pleasure of regularly gathering together. Multiple gifts emerge throughout this quirky read: a freshly rendered cast (humans of various skin tones plus anthropomorphized animals, objects, and hybrids); satisfying echoes of “The Magic Porridge Pot,” Tove Jansson’s Finn Family Moomintroll, and Tomi Ungerer’s The Hat; and droll text and linework that will fully immerse readers. Ages 3–8. (Apr.)