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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
The Lizard in Lizzy's Gizzard, written by Charles W. Page and illustrated by Miroslav Muratov, is a children's picture book that revolves around Lizzy, a young girl who is distressed after accidentally swallowing a lizard. Fearing the consequences of confessing, Lizzy opts instead for silence. Meanwhile, the trapped lizard, named Lazarus Machiavelli, cries out for release from the confines of Lizzy's gizzard. As Lizzy's condition worsens, medical professionals struggle to diagnose the mysterious ailment. Eventually, Lizzy, inspired by a creative idea, uses a string and a lollipop ring to free Lazarus from her gizzard, learning the importance of facing the truth and finding inventive solutions in tough situations. The story uses comparisons to Bible verses, such as Jonah and the Whale, drawing parallels to situations where trust in God is imperative and with moral lessons about honesty, resilience, and the unexpected ways in which solutions may emerge.
Charles W. Page does an exceptional job with the melodic writing in The Lizard in Lizzy's Gizzard. The tale is reminiscent of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Page's structure and rhythm closely align with the pattern of traditional nursery rhymes, which is rare in this day and age. My youngest reader found the lighthearted and whimsical verses hysterical, and we both had loads of fun reading through them. The illustrations by Miroslav Muratov are in full color, with all the polish of a contemporary animation style in a still picture format. One aspect that I absolutely loved is that the doctor is called in to help Lizzie. Lizzie is a person of color, and as a parent to children of color, this means a great deal to me. Overall, this is a well-written, thoughtful, and fun journey into Lizzy's gizzard, and it received two enthusiastic, if a little sticky, thumbs up.