I'm the Big One Now!

February 18, 2019
Singer’s genial poems focus on childhood milestones: learning left from right, visiting the beach for the first time, performing in a ballet or piano recital, or attending a first “big-kid party.” In a poem divided into three parts, a girl gradually learns how to ride her bike on two wheels; at first, she struggles to coast, steer, and pedal at the same time. But after falling over and getting back on, she soon recognizes that, little by little, she is improving: “Can I zip down a hill? Well, not quite./ But I know I’ll be doing that soon—/ by Sunday afternoon!” Christy illustrates in cheerful, jewel-toned digital spreads, capturing Singer’s relatable moments of frustration, progress, and pride. Ages 4–8.

April 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-A simple yet delightful collection of poems from Singer. The collection features 21 poems highlighting the rights of passage which take us from "little kid" to "big." While not every poem is universal, the collection as a whole has more than enough for most. Even if readers don't ever have a first piano or ballet recital, most are going to lose their baby teeth and learn to tie their shoes. Singer turns the spotlight on challenges that may seem mundane to grown-ups but are incredibly meaningful: learning left from right, taking a first ride on the bus alone, or figuring out what to do around unfamiliar people. The individual poems are short and very approachable; it's clear Singer kept her audience in mind while penning each one. Teachers and caregivers will appreciate the ability to pick up and set aside the book at will, reading only one or two poems or the entire collection in one go. The illustrations, while perhaps not exceptional, are very in-tune with the offering. Soft lines and smudged shapes help to steer the interest level, and the diverse cast is particularly notable. When adults appear in the pages, they are equally diverse and always play a supporting role. VERDICT This encouraging, kid-centric collection of poems is a fun and approachable homage to iconic rights of passage. A general purchase.-Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2018
Award-winning poet Singer explores the stumbles and triumphs that go hand in hand as preschoolers become big kids. From a three-part poem that appears in three different sections to two poems for two voices, these 19 poems encapsulate the myriad experiences of a diverse cast of grade schoolers. Just as the featured accomplishments span a wide range of "firsts," so do Singer's observations span a variety of poetic forms and rhyming schemes. Free verse intermingles with snappy quatrains, and introspection mingles with shouts of joy. "We figure it out! / We let out a hoot. / We find in the doghouse / a big bag of loot!" at a "First Big-Kid Party." However, the quality of these snapshots does not reflect the poet's previous noteworthy efforts. "Not big enough / to drive a car / (or my bike real far), / to grow a beard / (plus I'd look weird), / to stay up late / (like way past eight), / to own a phone... / But plenty big / to take a bus / without a fuss / and go to school / ALONE!" just doesn't have her usual zing. Christy's watercolor images capture gap-toothed grins and snaggle-brow frowns with equal aplomb. A hijab-wearing mother in a theater is pictured next to a ballpark scene featuring a baseball cap-wearing young lady. The creators' matter-of-fact embrace of inclusion is the highlight of an otherwise uneven poetry collection. (Picture book/poetry. 5-7)

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March 1, 2019
Grades K-2 Acclaimed poet Singer celebrates the milestones in a young child's life, as well as the more mundane moments, through a series of poems that, like children, are unique, at times unpredictable, and always lively. Some poems fill up two pages ("First Big-Kid Party"), some are for two voices ("First Good Snap, First Good Whistle"), some are a series ("Trying to Ride," which has three parts scattered throughout the book), and there are often playful surprises in the verse text. On one two-page spread, a poem about a noisy child being quiet in the theater is paired with one about a quiet child becoming loud in the ballpark. All are in first person and celebrate firsts, like ballet or piano recitals (on opposing pages), challenges (trying not to cry), and accomplishments (differing right from left). Christy's digital illustrations in soft pastel hues reflect children and families of all races and cultures. Children are captured mid-step on a bus or mid-pedal on a bike, full of energy and confidence. There's something for every child here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)