Review by New York Times Review
GRACE FOR GUS By Harry Bliss. Illustrated by Harry Bliss and Frank Young In this wordless graphic novel-style picture book, Grace's class wants a new hamster. She sneaks out to raise money by busking, drawing and dancing. Bliss, a New Yorker cartoonist, piles on funny Manhattan details kids may miss, but they'll love Grace's spunky quest to make a difference on her own.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [March 25, 2018]
Review by Booklist Review
Doerrfeld (Maggie and Wendel, 2016) returns with a beautifully rendered story of loss, friendship, and learning how to rebuild. After a child named Taylor makes a block tower to be proud of and it gets accidentally destroyed, all the nearby animals think they know how to help. One by one, they offer Taylor what they think the child needs (shouting about it, pretending it didn't happen, etc.), but nothing they do makes Taylor feel better. Doerrfeld's combination of simple sentences and soft digital-ink illustrations is complex in its simplicity. Set against a predominantly blank background, the focus is on Taylor and her animal friends. After many pages showing Taylor balled up on the floor with the animals towering over her, a rabbit comes along, curls up beside her, and listens to what Taylor actually needs. Inspired by the author watching several of her friends go through difficult times, this is a tear-jerking tale of learning how to be there for a loved one, relevant for both the child hearing the story and the adult reading it.--Essien, Enobong Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
It's something people of all ages struggle with: what's the best way to comfort someone? Taylor, a curly-haired boy in a striped onesie, is miserable after a flock of birds knocks down his amazing wooden-block tower. One by one, several animals approach him with strategies for feeling better. A bear advises rage ("Let's shout about it! Garrr! RARRR! GRAAAAR!"), and a snake suggests making someone else miserable ("Shhhhh. Let'ssss go knock down someone else'ssss"). Taylor refuses to be comforted in the ways the animals see fit, and they leave. Then along comes a rabbit who doesn't say a thing, but in its willingness to listen, persist, and be physically close ("It moved closer, and closer. Until Taylor could feel its warm body"), Taylor senses genuine concern and respect for his feelings. He opens up in all of the ways the animals previously suggested, but now it's on his terms-and then he's ready to build again. Each of Doerrfeld's highly distilled and elegantly concise vignettes brims with emotional honesty and profound empathy. The result is a story that's wise, funny, and easy to take to heart. Ages 3-5. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Taylor is excited about building something. But when that something falls apart, Taylor is devastated. Enter the well-meaning animals, each eager to share an opinion on how to fix the situation. However, Taylor doesn't want to talk about it or shout about it or remember how it used to be. Taylor doesn't want to laugh about it or hide and pretend it didn't happen or throw it away or even knock down someone else's something. Only Rabbit, with a quiet presence, is able to reach Taylor. "Through it all, the Rabbit never left." Only then could Taylor feel empowered to work through feelings and rebuild. Doerrfeld has written a gem of a story that will resonate with even the youngest of children who struggle with frustration. By respecting the child, Doerrfeld has provided space for problem-solving, and Rabbit paves the way for Taylor's journey to be valued. The use of nongender-specific characters increases the tale's relatability. Lori Gardner's vocal talent in bringing the animals to life lends a sense of realism that is appealing and endearing. VERDICT In its simplicity, this story is powerful and transforming. By affirming everyone's experience as they try to become thoughtfully independent, this book deserves space on the library shelf.-Terri Perper, Olney Elementary School, MD © Copyright 2018. 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
Young Taylor uses wooden blocks to build something new. Something ?special. Something amazing. The childs pride is short-lived: a flock of crows flies through the scene and topples the structure. Taylor sits dejected and alone. Then a chicken appears, clucking with empathy and urging Taylor to talk, talk, talk about it! Expressive illustrations depict (gender unspecified) Taylor with closed-off body language, clearly not drawing comfort from the sympathetic but intrusive bird. Other animals arrive, one-by-one, making assumptions about Taylors feelings and offering well-intended solutions that miss the mark: a bear assumes anger; a hyena tries to laugh it off; a kangaroo and joey try to throw the blocks away; a snake hisses, Letssss go knock down someone elsessss. Finally, a rabbit approaches and sits beside Taylor. Theres silence until Taylor decides to talk, and then the rabbit listened. The patient, compassionate presence of the rabbit allows Taylor to work through complex emotions without feeling rushed or pressured, culminating in a positive, hopeful ending. The blocks and crows, etc., are eminently metaphorical and in fact go unmentioned by the text. The bibliotherapeutic potential of this title ?is undeniable, but it never overwhelms the story and only contributes to this big-hearted picture books success. megan dowd lambert (c) Copyright 2018. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Author/illustrator Doerrfeld gives children a model for how to process difficult events and provide meaningful support to friends who need it.Taylor is excited to build a block tower, but then a flock of birds swoops in and knocks it all down. Different animal friends try to help, in ways that cleverly mirror their nature: the bear shouts, the ostrich buries its head in the wreckage, and the snake hisses about revenge. But what Taylor (who is never referred to with gendered pronouns) really needs is to explore a whole range of emotional responses to loss, without being asked to perform any specific feeling. A cuddly rabbit shows up and just listens, giving Tayloran expressive child with light skin, curly dark hair, and blue-and-white-striped one-piece pajamasspace for the whole process, going from grief to anger to resolution. The illustrations are spare yet textured, and the pace is excellent for reading aloud, with lots of opportunities for funny voices and discussion starters about supporting anyone through a hard time. Despite the obvious takeaway, this story doesn't feel overly moralizing or didactic. Keeping the focus on the small tragedy of tumbled blocks makes it young-child-appropriate, with opportunities for deeper connections with an older audience.This appealing work is an excellent addition to any emotional-intelligence shelf. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
