Review Detail

MARVELOUS MARGOT is a sweet picture book about kindness and friendship. Margot is going to visit her friend Oscar, and she has baked a marvelous cake to share. Oscar lives on the other side of town, so Margot loads up the cake in her wagon and begins her journey. Along the way, she finds some friends who need her help, and as she helps them, she also shares some of her cake. When she arrives at Oscar's house, her cake is all gone! Luckily, Oscar is just happy for her company - and he has a surprise, he has also baked a cake for them to share!

What I loved: This is a sweet story about friendship and helping others. Margot has a kind word and a willingness to help all the other animals she finds on her way to her friend's house, and this shines through each interaction. Margot is also praised for her kindness and has many friends as a result, setting a nice example of empathy, being kind, and helping. The story flows well and explains things along the way, in a style that will work well for preschoolers and toddlers but that will still appeal to early elementary school aged children.

The images are very colorful and lovely with plenty of detail to keep readers engaged. The zoom outs of the whole town were also helpful in understanding the way Margot has traveled and introduce some spatial awareness for young readers. The book also includes a QR code of an audiobook for readers who prefer to listen along.

What left me wanting more: As a small thing, some of the font can be tough to read in lowlight settings such as bedtime (for instance, black font on dark red).

Final verdict: MARVELOUS MARGOT is a lovely and colorful picture book about kindness, friendship, and empathy that will work well for toddlers and up.