Susanna Hill is the creator of Perfect Picture Book Friday where participants may review and recommend Picture Books.
I am so excited to bring you this week’s Perfect Picture Book Friday review. It is a debut book written and illustrated by Alison Hertz who is also a 12×12, PiBoIdMo, SkADaMo and PPBF participant. (whew!)
I ordered my copy from Alison (so she could autograph it for me) and I received it in the mail this week. I ran it by a grueling 3 panelist review board and it PASSED with ‘flying’ colors. (See pictures below of Panelists 1 & 2. However, panelist #3 wouldn’t stand still for a picture because he was too busy flapping) . Without any more preliminary here is my review of FLAP!
Title: FLAP!
Author & Illustrator: Alison K. Hertz
Publisher: Magic Dreams Publishing
Genre: Fiction
Audience Age: 2-9
Themes/Topics: Imagination/Problem Solving
Opening Sentences: “I have an idea, Katie! Let’s teach Lilly how to fly!” Max said.
Synopsis (from publisher): When a 7-year-old twin brother and sister decide to teach their 4-year-old sister to fly, they quickly learn that telling her to FLAP! just isn’t enough.
Why I like it: The book begins with an exciting idea that builds to an unexpected climax. Each page turn brings a new, creative, problem solving idea. As the children try to accomplish an impossible task there is a family of squirrels in the background following their every move and attempt to fly. Although poor Lilly repeatedly crashes and falls, gets covered with mud and tissue paper feathers, she undauntingly pursues the goal of flying. You won’t want to miss the surprise ending. The illustrations are bright, exciting and humorous. It is a high energy level book and my panelists loved the repetition of yelling “Run, Jump, FLAP!” and got more excited as the story progressed. They even began jumping up and flapping in the middle of the story. I think the best part of their review was when Panelist #1 said, “Is this book ours, Grandma, can we take it home?” Sadly, I had to tell them no. (because I got them their own autographed copy for Christmas. Shhh-it’s a secret.) FLAP! is a fun read and one that will be revisited often.
Activities/Resources: Some ideas for making wings, and paper birds are here: http://preschooler.thebump.com/flying-activities-kids-6291.html
and TLC has several paper airplane patterns and projects here:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/paper-airplanes.htm
Availability: Immediately from the author’s site, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
Congratulations to Alison on a wonderful story!! If you want to read more about Alison she allowed me to interview her last week which you can read here.
Blessings to you all and Happy Flapping – I mean Reading!
Laura (Grandmamiller)
Those pictures are so cute. What you neglected to mention was the kids asking to read it again as soon as I walked in the door.
Yay, I love the resounding yes your panelists gave this great début picture book!
Thanks, Joanna. My arms are still sore from flapping…they’re not as young as they used to be. 🙂
Ha ha. Thanks for the great review! Love the pics of your little ones flapping and reading FLAP. I have been hearing that little ones love the “CRASH” repetition, too. I can only dream that children 1-5 (and older) will want to hear it over and over again.
Such a great story idea for kids. And, if your children had such fun with the book, it must be a winner. Child tested! Congratulations on your book Alison. Sounds like a fun book! Like the cover too.
Thanks, for flapping by, Patricia!
Cute!
You can’t do much better than rave reviews from such panelists! 🙂 High praise indeed 🙂 I, too, just received my copy of FLAP!, although I don’t have any resident panelists. I’m so glad you added Alison’s book to our list! 🙂
Thanks, Susanna. Sorry if I beat you to the PPBF review.
Flaptastic review! Yay for Alison’s book, and yay for the red-headed panelists!
Thanks, Julie. Most people think they got red hair from me – but I got mine from Aunt L’oreal.
Ha, ha!
This sounds like a fun book, which is obvious in the photos!
Definitely a fun read! Thanks, Jarm
The book sounds cute. Your panelists are even cuter! Good choice.
Thanks, Genevieve. I’ll bet Cupcake would like the running and flapping!
I bet Cupcake would like the squirrels. ; )
Sounds like a fun read! I’m always a fan of surprise endings. 🙂
Thanks, Carrie for stopping by.
Your panelists look like they had a great time reviewing the book.
Flap! sounds very cute. And I would never argue with the opinion of the esteemed panelists. I have read Alison’s book yet and your review makes me wish I had it in my hands right now!
Alison captures the enthusiasm of children who believe anything is possible. Thanks Penny for stopping by.
I just knew Alison’s book would be delightful! The panelists have spoken! (And I’m so very very glad they’ll be getting their own copy at Christmas — they’ll be all a-flap with excitement!)
It is delightful. And the parallel story of the squirrels is really cute too. Thanks for flapping by! I have to get around to everyone’s PPB reads from last week…I’m behind.
I just got my copy this week and LOVE the book! Great selection for PPBF!
Thanks, Julie, for commenting. Alison captures that persistence of kids and their determined belief in something.
Thank you, Julie.
What a lovely story and how cute it was kid-tested and passed with flying colours, or is that flapping colours…lol. Well, now Alison, YOU just KNOW it’s a best seller with kid approval…. 🙂