Description:
"Do I have a secret admirer?" "Will I pass the math test?" "Do I look like a dork in this outfit?" For many among us, these are the questions of substance in our lives. But don't fret--just ask Babalouie. Long-time children's author and illustrator "Madame" Dale Gottlieb and first-timer "The Mysterious" Jane Burns have packed together six different playful pathways to finding your fortune in a cute but durable and well-designed fold-out kit. (And they've even thrown in a "Clearing Station" to better attune yourself to the timeless wisdom of Babalouie--"hum, baba, hum, baba, baba, baba, hum.") Far more harmless than a creepy Ouija board--not too mention a good bit more clever and fun--this kit's got it all: you'll find Penny LeGuin's Flexi Fortune Flipper (an immediately recognizable origami-meets-hand-jive prognosticator endemic to middle-school cafeterias); the glow-in-the-dark Weather or Not Love Wheel (put in the initials of your would-be love, take a spin, and receive your forecast); the Wonder Wheel of Animal Magnetism (turn the wheel to get horoscopic hints from the animal kingdom); a deck of Tell-Tale Cards (tarot-esque insight on friendship, change, creativity, and the like); a deck of Think Blots (freeform self-reflection à la Rorschach); and last but not least, a Yes-No Spin Again Later window straight into the mind of Babalouie. ("Do not try to test Baba, because that interferes with his inner eye.") The smart, flat-perspective illustrations of penguins, hearts, and Frisbee-throwing aliens will win you over even before you've received any of Babalouie's good-natured predictions. A welcome and sturdy companion at slumber parties, on car trips, or just whenever the teacher isn't looking. (Ages 8 to 12) --Paul Hughes
| 
