John's Turn

by Mac Barnett, Kate Berube (Illustrator)

Overview

E. B. White Read-Aloud winner Mac Barnett celebrates individuality in a story told with tenderness and subtlety.

It’s John’s big day at school today—a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins. Mac Barnett’s compassionate text and Kate Berube’s understated and expressive art tell the story of a kid who finds the courage to show others his talent for dancing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536226768
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mac Barnett is the author of numerous books for children, including A Polar Bear in the Snow, illustrated by Shawn Harris; Just Because, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault; President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen; and several books illustrated by Jon Klassen, including Sam&Dave Dig a Hole, which received a Caldecott Honor and an E. B. White Read-Aloud Award; The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse; and the shape trilogy. Mac Barnett lives in California.

Kate Berube is the author-illustrator of Hannah and Sugar, which won the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award and the Oregon Book Award for Children’s Literature, and Mae’s First Day of School, which was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Children’s Literature. Kate Berube lives in Oregon with her family.

Mac Barnett is the author of several picture books, including President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath, Chloe and the Lion, and Guess Again!, which TIME magazine named the number 2 Picture Book of 2010.

Mac Barnett collaborated with Jon Klassen on Extra Yarn, which won the 2012 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award in the Picture Book category, and on Sam and Dave Dig a Hole.

Mac Barnett also writes the Brixton Brothers series of mysteries. He is the founder of the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers, and serves on the board of 826LA, a not-for-profit writing and tutoring center in Los Angeles. He lives in California.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/10/2022

Employing sweet humor and sensory detail, Barnett (What Is Love?) and Berube (Second Banana) convey the unexpected beauty of a school performance. Sometimes, “if we’re good,” Friday Assembly ends with a student presenting a talent—“It’s called ‘Sharing Gifts.’ A lot of us think that’s kind of a dumb name, but we also think Sharing Gifts is the best.” Recent examples include a tuba performance, magic tricks, and stand-up comedy, and today, it’s John’s turn. Berube draws the tan-skinned child sitting silently in front of an untouched breakfast tray (“We knew why. He was nervous”). Soon, children of varying skin tones sit on the floor of the cafeteria, which “still smells like breakfast.” In a series of vignettes, John dons a white leotard, black pants, and black slippers behind a curtain, and then stands tensely onstage as music begins. One snarky audience comment is quickly squelched before “he danced”: in a breathlessly kinetic, wordless sequence, spreads show John turning, leaping, and landing, light as a feather, until he comes to the end of his routine, “breathing hard”—and the audience knows just how to respond. The story’s collective, omniscient voice and graceful illustrations, wonderfully reminiscent of The Philharmonic Gets Dressed, portray a community that stays open and curious—and a child who shares their effort with brave vulnerability. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Employing sweet humor and sensory detail, Barnett (What Is Love?) and Berube (Second Banana) convey the unexpected beauty of a school performance. . . in a breathlessly kinetic, wordless sequence, spreads show John turning, leaping, and landing, light as a feather. . . The story’s collective, omniscient voice and graceful illustrations, wonderfully reminiscent of The Philharmonic Gets Dressed, portray a community that stays open and curious—and a child who shares their effort with brave vulnerability.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Barnett and Berube offer a sensitive story about a boy grappling with stage fright and insecurity. . . . Barnett and Berube bring mastery of craft as well as an understanding of human nature to offer a fresh take on a familiar trope.

—The Horn Book (starred review)

Berube’s warmly colored illustrations capture how John’s apprehension turns to confidence and even elation as he dances; his facial expressions and body language are spot-on. Much of this perfectly paced book is devoted to John’s performance, including five elegantly and economically composed, almost wordless spreads. . . . John faces down his fear to share his gift with determination, beauty and a style that is all his own. A true gift, indeed.




—BookPage (starred review)

The quiet text tells the story simply, though during the lively, eight-page dance sequence featuring images of John in motion, two words suffice: 'He danced.' Berube’s sensitive drawings, created with ink and paint, capture the look and ambiance of the elementary-school setting as well as John’s emotions. A respectful, wonderfully childlike introduction to ballet.

—Booklist

Berube’s simple ink-and-paint illustrations have minimal background details, allowing readers to focus squarely on John and his emotions. It is truly wonderful to see a boy character in a children’s book so enthusiastic about, and accomplished at, ballet. Any child, though, who has a talent to share or struggles with performance anxiety will find a role model in John. . . . A lovely, empowering book about having the courage to express one’s individuality.

—Kirkus Reviews

Dappled textures and simple lines of the ink and watercolor art play well with perspective. . . Viewers who struggle with stage fright and embracing their hobbies may gain some confidence from John’s journey and the book’s welcoming, inclusive tone.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This wonderful children’s book is filled with tender illustrations and a lovely story about a boy who is waiting for his turn at Friday Assembly where they have a “Sharing Gifts” portion. I just loved this book, especially the ending.
—Book Riot

From the Publisher

04/01/2022

K-Gr 2—It is left to readers to intuit the source of John's stage fright in this heartwarming school story. A spunky child's voice explains about Friday assembly and Sharing Gifts time, when one student gets to perform for the whole school. Today it is John's turn. When the blue curtain opens, John, in his white leotard, black pants, and slippers, could not look more apprehensive. His expression barely changes through his first steps to the music, but then, after a graceful leap that spans two pages, John begins to dance with confidence and joy. He scissors his legs, spins, and soars with pointed toes and arms outstretched until the music stops. His worried eyebrows are gone, and there is a small smile on his lips. Then it is everybody else's turn…to clap. The child narrator and the loose line of the ink and paint illustrations capture the wiggly ambience of an elementary school assembly. The spreads over which John dances in a world of his own need no words and practically summon the music he is dancing to. VERDICT A charming affirmation of believing in oneself and of recognizing the heartfelt talents of others.—Jan Aldrich Solow

School Library Journal

2022-01-12
A young White boy shares his secret talent with his classmates for the first time.

An unnamed, unidentified narrator, clearly one of the titular protagonist’s schoolmates, explains that every week at Friday Assembly, one student gets to perform for the whole school, an activity called “Sharing Gifts.” Once, Tina played her tuba; another time, Jessie did some magic; Carol delivered a stand-up routine. Now it’s John’s turn, and boy does he look nervous. In short, declarative sentences the text describes John’s preparations for his act. Once on stage, he hesitates as some kids laugh at the musical track accompanying his performance—“strings, violins and things, and then maybe flutes”—then it’s showtime. A succession of wordless, double-page spreads uses continuous narration to showcase the various poses and steps of John’s glorious ballet recital. His facial expression and body language morph as fear gives way to a joyful sense of accomplishment. Young readers will love John’s classmates’ reactions at the ending. Berube’s simple ink-and-paint illustrations have minimal background details, allowing readers to focus squarely on John and his emotions. It is truly wonderful to see a boy character in a children’s book so enthusiastic about, and accomplished at, ballet. Any child, though, who has a talent to share or struggles with performance anxiety will find a role model in John. The children are nicely diverse racially. Their teachers present White.

A lovely, empowering book about having the courage to express one’s individuality. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews