Luci Soars

by Lulu Delacre, Lulu Delacre (Illustrator)

Overview

From the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Turning Pages by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor comes an emotionally resonant picture book about learning that what sets you apart is often what makes you great.

Luci was born without a shadow. Mamá says no one notices. But Luci does. And sometimes others do too. Sometimes they stare, sometimes they tease Luci, and sometimes they make her cry. But when Luci learns to look at what makes her different as a strength, she realizes she has more power than she ever thought. And that her differences can even be a superpower.

From three-time Pura Belpré Award honoree Lulu Delacre comes a heartfelt and uplifting story with a timeless message: what sets you apart is often what makes you great.

Praise for Luci Soars:

"This urban fable encourages readers to claim their space"—Kirkus Reviews

*"Simple and powerful . . . a great read-aloud for educators to discuss emotions, bullying, acceptance of differences, self-esteem and empowerment." —Youth Services Book Review, starred review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984812889
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/04/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lulu Delacre has been writing and illustrating children's books since 1980. Born and raised in Puerto Rico to Argentinean parents, Delacre is a three-time Pura Belpré Award honoree. Her forty-one titles include Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America; Us, in Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos; ¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z!; and the New York Times bestselling Turning Pages, written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Delacre has lectured internationally, served as a juror for the National Book Awards, and exhibited her work at the Eric
Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, among other venues. You can visit Lulu Delacre at luludelacre.com

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Luci Soars:

"This urban fable encourages readers to claim their space"—Kirkus Reviews


Praise for Lulu Delacre:

*"Vibrant and Striking." -School Library Journal, starred review of ¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z!

"Lulu Delacre's soft renderings of the first Latina Supreme Court justice as a little brown-haired bookworm in the Bronx will make both Red and Blue hearts melt.... A children's book that bursts with charm."—The New York Times on Turning Pages

From the Publisher

2020-06-03
Who needs shadows anyway?

Luci certainly doesn’t. But soon people start noticing that even in the brightest of sunlight, Luci is missing hers. From the time she is a baby, she is hyperaware that people are judging her. As a toddler, she learns to walk in the shadows of others. However, one day at school she stops huddling in the gloom and ventures into the light. The cruel taunts of classmates drive her first to tears and then to rebellion. Finding herself no longer anchored to the ground by shadows of people or things, she soars through the city and experiences the liberating power of just being herself, taking on vibrant color that contrasts with the black-and-white world around her. Delacre’s sparse text reads more as a stream of consciousness than a story. Punctuated by a smattering of Spanish, Luci’s thoughts range from disjointed musings to powerful observations: “Mean shadows pointed. / Mean shadows laughed. / Mean shadows stared / their icy stares.” The illustrations also meander in quality, from the strikingly textured shadows to an inconsistently portrayed Luci. Peculiarly, an image of Luci crawling is partnered with the line, “But I grew up.” Luci’s apparent age continues to weirdly fluctuate—when she’s walking with her mother after the flying adventure, she appears younger than when she’s soaring. She then appears as a preteen in the final panel. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

This urban fable encourages readers to claim their space but may provoke more questions than answers. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews