Youthful irreverence and creativity find a champion in this tale of Iggy Peck, a child who once "built a great tower-in only an hour-/ with nothing but diapers and glue." At the sight (and smell) of this wonder, Iggy's mother memorably responds, "Good Gracious, Ignacious!" She supports his precocity, despite his preferred media. When Iggy arrives in second grade, however, his teacher forbids such follies, based on her childhood fear of skyscrapers. Her backstory suggests teachers' rules can be arbitrary, not to mention damaging to inventive students: "With no chance to build, his interest was killed," and Iggy droops disconsolately at his desk amid blank negative space. His ennui lasts until a fortuitous school picnic, when a rickety footbridge collapses (and so does the teacher); led by Iggy, the children construct a suspension bridge from "boots, tree roots and strings, fruit roll-ups and things/ (some of which one should not mention)," including undies. Beaty (When Giants Come to Play) favors sprightly stanzas, while Roberts (Mrs. Crump's Cat) drafts orderly watercolor images on, alternately, clean white paper and graph paper. The structured rhymes and controlled illustrations fit the architectural theme, and if the mannered poetry strains at times, Roberts breaks free of the stylization with absorbing details. Each of Iggy's 16 classmates, for example, has his or her own unique quality, implying the variety of personalities and potentials to be appreciated in any group of children. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationFinding your creative spark can be challenging for an adult and it may be even harder for your little reader; which is why these ten lovely pictures books are perfect for helping to foster and develop creativity in children. Filled with unique ways to spark creativity in young readers these books are guaranteed to help […]
Some kids love building intricate towers with their LEGOs and are born with an eye for design and construction. If your young reader is already asking you questions about how bridges are built and had a proclivity for Eames chairs, here are six fabulous picture books that are sure to inspire your budding architect or […]
As someone raising both a son and a daughter, I’m always on the lookout for books that empower both of them to grow into strong, happy, healthy adults. That’s every parent’s dream, right? While my daughter went through a princess phase just like many other girls her age, she simultaneously expressed an interest in trains, […]
Whether your kids have an interest in architecture or simply marvel at engineering, these eight picture books feature something for everyone. From drawing historical structures to Frank Lloyd Wright, strong female architects to seeing buildings from above, each book is an excellent building block to your child’s understanding of architecture and the places we live, […]
When I was in elementary school I really wanted a job. Paperwork, answering phones, carrying a briefcase, having meetings, seemed really… fun. My friends and I would play office as much as we would play with our Barbies. Needless to say, one of my favorite school “holidays” was take your kids to work day. Not […]