Love by Sophia

April 1, 2020
Sophia's impressive vocabulary strikes again. In this third title in the series, 6-year-old Sophia, who has brown skin and wears her hair in three puffballs, has a conundrum: Her art falls short of her expectations, so she crumples it up in frustration after showing it to Noodle, her pet giraffe. Aided by her attentive teacher, Ms. Paradigm, who agrees with Sophia that "Art is hard," she comes to understand some things about perspective that improve her painting she calls Love. At home, she lobbies for permission to display her art on the family's new stainless steel CoolKitch (TM) fridge. (Readers will recall she used this skill effectively to get Noodle in One Word From Sophia, 2015.) She must convince Mother, the judge (who is also pregnant); Father, the businessman; Uncle Conrad, the politician; and Grand-mam�, the "head curator." Ultimately it's Noodle who helps Grand-mam�, the toughest critic, see the art and their family from a better vantage point. Readers might never have encountered the words "ossicones," "curator," or "censorship" before, but they will have a good idea of what each word means after reading this story, especially with the help of the robust glossary. Ismail's whimsical watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations of this interracial family will entertain and delight while they inform. She captures Sophia's shifting attitudes particularly well as the determined protagonist pleads her case for abstract art. An art-positive story rich in love, determination, and delightfully big words for brains of all sizes. (author's note, glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)

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May 15, 2020
Preschool-G When Sophia's teacher assigns a new art project, she's thrilled, but after some frenzied painting, she realizes that something is missing from her creation, and her sociable giraffe friend, Noodle, agrees. A forlorn Sophia presents her work to the teacher, who suggests that she could use a little perspective?literally, in this case, as Sophia gets a crash course in making her artwork spring to life. Finally satisfied, Sophia campaigns to get her piece hung in a place of honor?her diverse extended family's new fridge?but she must first school them in her newfound knowledge. Ismail's colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations burst with color and cheer, and Averbeck's text is charming and playful. Back matter includes a brief art lesson and a glossary of some of the more challenging vocabulary (readers will learn what ossicones are!). Sophia and Noodle are a dream team when it comes to creativity and persistence, providing young readers with a clever lesson on the idea that perspective really is everything.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

June 1, 2020

Gr 1-2-Sophia and her pet giraffe Noodle are back with a story about perspective. Sophia has what sounds like a simple art assignment-draw something you love. But she isn't happy with her work and crumples up each of her attempts. Luckily, Sophia's teacher Mrs. Paradigm helps her learn about perspective, and Noodle is there to be the example. "To a bird flying over Noodle, his head looks huge, but his hooves small," says Sophia as she begins to understand a bird's-eye view. Inspired, she draws a masterpiece named "Love" that she brings home in hopes of convincing her family to hang it on their new refrigerator. Her grandmother declares the masterpiece too good for the fridge, and hangs it on the wall where everyone can enjoy it. Averbeck's prodigious language and Ismai's bright watercolors are in the same style as their previous "Sophia" titles. A glossary and author's note on drawing perspective are included. VERDICT This book follows the same structure as the two previous titles in the series; it works on its own, but is significantly better in conjunction with the other titles.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Lib., Troy, NH

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