Kids Picks

Touch the Sky written by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic and illustrated by Chris Park

If you want a gorgeously illustrated picture book with an observant and entertaining story line, give Touch the Sky a go.

Vern longs to be able to swoop high on the swings at his local playground, but no matter how hard he kicks and flops and folds himself in half, he just can’t do it … until Gretchen comes along. Free-spirited Gretchen shows him all the right moves and encourages his efforts but it’s still really hard, although he’s kind of got it by the time Gretchen goes home.

Frustration creeps in and Vern thinks, not for the first time, about giving up, but manages to keep pushing through his exasperation until everything clicks into place and he finally gets that fabulous feeling of whooshing high into the sky. Then a child comes along who also longs to be able to swoop high on the swings, and Vern knows just how to help.

This book is colourful, dynamic and thought-provoking as well as having some very funny lines. The text and artwork combine perfectly to form a beautiful depiction of encouragement, persistence, childhood freedom and the sheer exhilaration of movement.

Lovely!

Reviewed by Elspeth Moody.