Review by Booklist Review
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.--Cruze, Karen Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Shy is an awkward, bookish giraffe whose thrilling encounter with a real bird compels him to leave his confined existence to find her. "Treep treep troo-lee!" cries the yellow bird, and Shy is smitten. He's never heard birdsong before ("None of his books could sing"), and to find her he must go where he's never gone before. Shy is so shy that readers don't see him at all until well into the story. When Freedman (By Mouse and Frog) writes, "Shy was happiest between the pages of a book," it's a pun; an arrow points to the book's gutter, where Shy is hiding. Only when he starts to search does he step out onto the page and become visible. When at last Shy and the bird meet, he can use the line the story has been heading for: "Shy whispered, 'I'm shy.' " Florence (the bird) loves Shy's books, it turns out, and the two head for happily ever after. Freedman gently suggests that love can push us to be braver than we've ever been. Ages 3-5. Agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
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. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Shy was happiest between the pages of a book. So begins Freedmans paean to making new friends, the joys of reading, and the challenges of being an introvert. The initially unseen Shy loves all books, but especially books about birds. One day a real little yellow bird flies by, singing her song. Shy wants to meet her, but, living up to his name, hes too embarrassed to talk to her (What if he stuttered? What if he blushed?). When the bird flies away, Shy gets up the courage to follow, leaving home for the first time. He travels to new lands and sees many new animalsand finally, upon coming home, and with a twheep! twheep! twheeeep!, makes contact with Florence, for that is the birds name. She flutters over to Shys book, where the two friends do what true friends do: bond over the words of a beloved story. Muted browns and yellows signal Shys life in a sandy habitat and provide foreshadowing for the reveal of his species, while translucent blues and whites let us know when Florence is near. Musical notes and colorful bubbles mark a trail in the air for both Shy and Florence to follow. New friends, whether shy or not, will enjoy watching this friendship blossom. robin smith(c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
