  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 09/15/2016 Expansive washes of blue and yellow, orange and green, laid over sparse and delicate drawings, lends this picture book a calm, dreamy appeal that lets the story of Shy, a giraffe, shine. Shy, true to his name, is a bookish creature who loves to read about all sorts of places, but has never even met a real bird. When one trills by one day, he finally gathers the courage to follow, gaining companions along the way. But when Shy finds the bird, she is gone before he can speak. He trudges away until, back with his books, he is surprised when she returns. This time he does manage to tell her his name. Graciously she tells him hers (it’s Florence!), and as the pages green up, readers can tell this will be a verdant friendship. Timid children will find this tale by the creator of Blue Chicken (2011) appealing and even inspiring. The denouement, with Shy reading to Florence his very own story about their meeting, is a lovely wrap-up. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 10/01/2016 K-Gr 2—In this serene, unassuming story, readers meet Shy, a giraffe who is happiest—both figuratively and literally—"between the pages of a book." Shy, unseen for a large portion of the tale and unidentified until its close, is exceedingly bashful and prefers to experience the world by reading. In particular, he loves books about birds, and when he encounters a beautiful songbird, he makes the brave decision to follow her. Shy's journey takes him across wondrous landscapes and introduces him to other remarkable animals, but just as he summons the courage to speak to her, she is gone, and Shy returns home, heartbroken. When the songbird reappears, Shy, in a satisfying moment of daring, calls out to her (thus identifying himself to readers as well), and the two begin a sweet friendship. The spare text works in lovely concert with the soft, muted illustrations. Composed using pencil, watercolor, and bits of colored pencil, they evoke a sense of joy and wonder. As the book opens, the images are saturated with warm tones of orange and gold, hinting at Shy's identity, and bursts of soft blue and yellow accompany the songbird's introduction. Freedman expertly shifts the color palette to express Shy's emotions and moods. In moments of bravery, exploration, and friendship, the colors brighten; when Shy struggles with his feelings of timidity, the orange tones once again seep into the pages. The subtle beauty of the art invites multiple readings. VERDICT This warm, gentle meditation on overcoming fears and making new friends is suitable for a cozy read-aloud and quiet one-on-one enjoyment.—Lauren Strohecker, McKinley Elementary School, Elkins Park, PA - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
 |