Blue & Bertie

March 28, 2016
Litten (Bike On, Bear!) delivers a deceptively simple story that celebrates individuality, acceptance, and friendship. Bertie and his fellow giraffes—with their long necks and rounded bodies, they almost look like a row of eighth notes or soup ladles as they nibble leaves from tall trees—follow the same schedule every day. Having overslept one morning, Bertie wakes up alone and lost, fretting about how he’ll find his herd, until he encounters a giraffe “who was just like him—except he was blue!” (Bertie and his brethren are yellow.) As they travel together, Blue shows Bertie a world of vivid flowers, unfamiliar birds, and a rushing herd of zebras, sights he’s never seen before. After Bertie rejoins his herd, Blue (who fears he won’t belong) is instead accepted “just the way he was.” Closing scenes that show the giraffes amid the colorful birds and flowers Bertie previously discovered underscore Litten’s message about the value of breaking outside of one’s comfort zone—and getting to know people who don’t look exactly like you. Ages 4–8. Agent: Alan Lynch, Arena Illustration.

March 15, 2016
Mismatched animals who become friends are a common theme in picture books, and this one is visual proof that a real friend is "true blue." Every day is the same for Bertie and the other yellow giraffes. They nibble leaves from the treetops, drink cooling water at the water hole, and then snooze. That is, until the day when Bertie oversleeps and wakes up alone. Without the rest of the tower, he is lost. How will he find his way home? Just as he starts to cry, a shy creature steps forward--he's just like Bertie, only blue! Not only does Blue show him the way home, but he draws Bertie's attention to all kinds of unnoticed things, like rare flowers. Best of all, the other yellow giraffes love Blue, and from then on they all see things a little bit differently each day. Sound effects ("crunchity-crunch," "sip, slurp," "trit trot") pepper the text, adding some liveliness. The giraffes are depicted with brown (or blue) polka dots and spindly legs, and the stylized flora in the background adds to the whimsy. One fanciful image shows the sleeping giraffes with their necks curled in loops; another, tall, vertical spread underscores the giraffes' long necks. The theme of feeling different and finding a friend is predictable here, but kids will enjoy the colorful illustrations and laid-back delivery. A gentle story with a sweet message that doesn't hit readers over the head. (Picture book. 4-7)

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June 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Bertie is indistinguishable from the other yellow, spotted giraffes, both in appearance and behavior. His existence is so routine that he panics when he finds himself alone and having to make decisions on his own. "What should I do?" he says as he paces around a rock. A blue giraffe sees Bertie and offers to show him the way home. But Blue introduces Bertie to far more than the path home. He teaches him about birds and rare flowers that live among them, and he encourages him to feel free. In return, Bertie gives Blue friendship and a home where he can feel accepted, even though he stands out from the herd. The simple artwork is expressive and engaging. The text, which rhymes at times, adds emotion and heart to characters who are already brimming with personality. VERDICT A sweet, empowering story to share one-on-one or in a storytime. Kids will embrace Bertie and Blue.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

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