From the shimmering cover through to the last page, this book is a rainbow explosion of bright-non-stop color and big bold illustrations.
Tag: Age 4-8
Review: Sonata for Fish and Boy
Pavlović’s subtle color shifts, highly expressive faces, and liberal use of magical realism crescendo in a poignant, touching ending that some may argue is inevitable. Others would argue is not an ending at all.
Review: Lobstah Gahden
This funny, accessible tale is beautifully illustrated and detailed. In bright water colors (pun intended and warranted) the picturebook is beautiful to leaf through and kids will like the over-animated creatures and brisk narrative.
Review: The Wall and the Wild
Shades of OCD, unresolved trauma, perfectionism and an inability to see beauty in one’s self abound in this simple story.
Review: On the Line
Enter Jackson Moore, our protagonist. On the Line, a cheerfully illustrated story about what happens when your skills don’t exactly measure up to your family’s generational abilities, is a solid example of what can be accomplished when strengths are found in different areas than at first anticipated.
What is Dialogic Reading?
If you’ve never heard the term before, dialogic reading can seem a bit daunting. We didn’t do that when I was a kid. What kind of sorcery is this? Is this new math related? Believe it or not, these are all comments I’ve heard in relation to a relatively easy, valuable tool that you can use to improve your child’s reading comprehension skills, starting at the preschool level and continuing even through middle grade! [Honestly, even full-fledged adults can have fun with dialogic reading.]
PLUS: A look at 5 Wordless Picturebooks!
Review: The Proudest Color
Familius’ The Proudest Color gives us a perfunctory, formulaic take why our protagonist is proud to be brown (as she should be). The problem, however, is not in the incredibly worthwhile endeavor, but rather in its execution.
Review: ¿Qué Haces Con Una Voz Así? (What do you do with a voice like that?)
This picturebook biography of Barbara Jordan, who some argue was the Nation’s first LGBTQ+ Representative in Congress, is a serviceable account of Jordan’s career highlights as thematically encapsulated around her significant, powerful voice. Note, voice stands in proxy here for not only the tone, timber and strength of Jordan’s powerful speech, but also the eloquence, charm, and brilliant intelligence she so easily manifested.
Review: La Joven Aviadora (The Flying Girl)
In this impeccable Spanish Language translation of Engle’s The Flying Girl, we learn the story of Aida de Acosta Breckenridge, an American socialite and the first woman to fly a powered aircraft, solo. De Acosta, of Cuban and Spanish descent, was taught to fly by Alberto Santos-Dumont, known in Brazil, his native country, as the father of aviation.