Parker Curry

Parker and Gia are inseparable best friends who are disappointed when Parker and her family go on a road trip vacation, parting the two friends temporarily. Parker decides to stay close with her friend by writing her letters during all of their adventures. As the family travels to interesting places around the U.S., Parker dutifully reports back.

This is a super sweet book. Even though the vocabulary is limited, sentences are short, and font is large, this book has more of a story than many other introductory level early readers. I think a lot of that is because the illustrations and social conventions fill in the rest.

Children will identify with having a close friend, and the friendship depicted here is quite lovely. The illustrations are open and inviting, using bold lines and rich colors. The characters reflect diverse backgrounds, making that another good reason to have this book on the shelf in a classroom or library.

The final page of the book has some really interesting information; it talks about the epistolary relationship between authors Zora Neale Hurson and Dorothy West, which allows for a very brief introduction to the Harlem Renaissance. It was an unexpected surprise to get this miniature history lesson. The call to action at the end invites children to write letters to family members or friends, which is still an important skill to hone.… (plus d'informations)

Dancing joy mixes with sibling adventures to showcase a heart-warming balance, which beams from every page.

Parker loves her brother and sister, and enjoys spending time with them, but when a new girl at the ballet school makes each step and plie shine, Parker realizes that she'll need to practice more if she wants to achieve her dreams of becoming an amazing ballerina, someday. Unfortunately, that means she doesn't have as much time to play with her siblings...not to mention that they even get in the way. When the day of the recital finally arrives, she's surprised to see that the new girl, despite her talent, is afraid to go onto the stage. But maybe, that's exactly when having wonderful siblings might give the extra, needed edge.

Parker's energy and joy for life (as well as ballet) are impossible to miss, making her easy to like and connect with. Her love for her siblings and the fun they have playing together is inspiring. Even when they 'bother' Parker during her practice, there isn't even the touch of ill-feelings. Rather, Parker misses having the time to spend with them. So, this is a book with positive vibes pure.

The dance scenes with Parker will make ballet and dance fans smile. The basic terms are mentioned and the illustrations fit right along, allowing young ballet hopefuls to easily see themselves dancing, too. But then, this is a book, which also rotates around Parker's joy for dance. Even when the new girl is more advanced, Parker doesn't harbor negative thoughts. Rather, it pushes her to do better herself and realize that it takes practice to achieve something...and that it's not a right or handed over on a silver platter. The only thing, which made me raise an eyebrow, is the way in which the problem of stage fright was solved. It is caring and makes the heart feel warm, but I'm not sure it would go over well with most dance teachers.

The illustrations are pretty, pink, and bring across the atmosphere and emotions wonderfully. The depictions of Parker and the others give everything a positive glow and inspire the entire way through.

The text is kept short, making it great for a read-aloud with even more impatient listeners. At the end, there is a short biography of each true-to-life ballet dancer, which has been shown in posters on the walls in the illustrations. This can be used in discussions with the listeners or is great as extra information for the caretaker.
I received an ARC, am giving this one 4.5-stars, and rounding up.… (plus d'informations)