Ellie has a secret

The indoor sandbox in Ellie's classroom holds an item that calls to her: a smooth seashell, dappled and glossy, "with a ridge along the opening that she ran her thumb across," writes Bothe in this artful picture book debut. In an impulsive moment, the pale-skinned child drops it into her pocket. At lunch, a creature emerges from the shell, hissing "in a voice that sounded like dripping water, 'I am your Secret.' " Green and unsettlingly sinuous, the Secret looks like an ancient sea monster. And it keeps growing: digital illustrations, which have the burnished colors and atmospheric lighting of classical art, show Ellie dragging the now-enormous being home through the rain, then getting edged out of bed. Summoning her courage, Ellie finally tells her mother the truth, resolves to return the shell, and watches as the Secret shrinks away. The story unfolds as a striking metaphor for how secrets can become overwhelming burdens, while promising that coming clean may represent not just relief but also a personal and empowering choice. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (Aug.)

In this cautionary tale, Bothe brings to vibrant life the allure and alarm of keeping a not-so-nice secret. Unlike the other kids at school, Ellie loves it when recess is rained out; she enjoys the opportunity to sift for treasures in the classroom sandbox. While doing so one day, she discovers a perfect little cowrie shell; in a fit of greed, she takes it. When she examines it later, an odd creature crawls out of the shell, introducing itself as her Secret. Initially, Ellie is charmed and begins lugging the Secret around like an oversize puppy wherever she goes. As the day progresses, however, the Secret increases in size, crowding Ellie out of her own life. A metaphor for hurtful secrets, the creature is simultaneously endearing and malicious, initially peering up from inside the stolen shell in a nicely nightmarish fashion. Though the Secret has some qualities in keeping with the dragons of Eastern mythology, its long wormlike body twisting and curling around Ellie, it is clearly a product of the creator's imagination. Alas, the narrative, which proceeds at an even pace throughout, comes to an abrupt ending once Ellie confesses her crime; still, on the whole, this empathetic and cleverly imagined tale will resonate with anyone who's been in Ellie's situation. The protagonist presents white; her classmates are diverse. A smartly wrought allegory for what happens when we give our secrets power over us (and how to take that power back).(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.