Review by Booklist Review
This gorgeous concept book begins, directly, with a lesson on the prefix bi-, which typically means "two." The ensuing series of full-bleed spreads introduce several common uses: biennial plant, bicycle, biped, bilateral symmetry, bivalve, binoculars, bilingual, biracial. Each spread presents an outdoor scene--kite flying, gardening, whale watching--with a recurring, rainbow shirt--clad kid and a sentence that effectively provides gentle context to the given term (in addition to a back-matter glossary defining each one). A final turn declares that "one word that starts with 'bi' can mean 'more than two,'" presenting the term bisexuality, "because bi hearts love in a rainbow of ways." Of course, this development has been thoroughly seeded throughout the book, in illustrations frequently shaded in pinks, purples, and blues, featuring families that appear to include same-sex couples, in addition to the central character's rainbow shirt. Alonso's pastel, crayon, and colored-pencil artwork brings an undeniable exuberance to the proceedings, setting it all on a softly etched, brightly colored beach setting populated by smiling people. It's a simple approach that bridges an understanding of language to an expression of identity, infusing it all with an appropriate sense of peace, pride, and community. A sweet, loving lesson in language and love, on a subject rarely covered.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Biennial plant, bicycle, bivalve--"many words that start with 'bi' mean 'two,' " Irving begins in this book of terms associated through their matching prefix. Descriptive lines detail many instances in which bi refers to pairs ("biracial" is described as "Two parents to celebrate with pride"). Finally, the text leads to bisexuality, an outlier that can mean "more than two"--"because bi hearts love in a rainbow of ways." Alonso's drawings, done using dry pastels, wax crayons, and colored pencils, depict two young figures interacting with the defined words (on one page, a child peers through a pair of giant binoculars). In this brief handling, the creators straightforwardly establish bisexuality as another part of a wide world full of words--and worthy of the same understanding. A glossary concludes. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--In this calming and tranquil picture book, words that begin with "bi" are explored. The opening line of the book mentions that many words that start with that syllable mean "two," and then, in pastel-laden illustrations, the book depicts individuals bicycling, sharing bilingual speech, and looking through binoculars. The culmination of the book is that one of the many words beginning with "bi" means to love many, as in bisexuality. This book conveys that bi is beautiful in a simple yet effective way while exposing young children to complex vocabulary. A glossary further defines the terms explored in the text. It's a sweet book and positive introduction to bisexuality as a term, giving teachers and parents terminology to present the concept effectively. VERDICT This simple book shares complex ideas, teaches an important prefix, and engages young readers through lovely, approachable illustrations.--Tracey S. Hodges
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
On a day at the beach, two children discover words that start with the prefixbi. "Many words that start with 'bi' mean two," Irving informs readers. The kids in Alonso's illustrations watch a biennial plant grow, then ride bicycles with their grown-ups to the seaside. Legs outstretched, the youngsters proudly proclaim themselves to be bipeds, watch a whale through a pair of binoculars, and explore bivalve sea creatures and the concept of bilateral symmetry in butterflies. Other families at the beach introduce the termsbilingual andbiracial. Irving closes with abi word that "can mean 'more than two'":bisexuality, since "bi hearts love in a rainbow of ways." Some of the concepts will be a bit abstract for young readers. A much-needed glossary goes into further detail and may allay some confusion; children and their adults will need to put in some work to understand these terms, but those interested in finding connections between words and concepts will be intrigued. The book's soft, powdery illustrations rely heavily on the iconic pink, purple, and blue of the bi flag, particularly in the final spread, which shows silhouetted figures on the beach as the sun sets, with the phrase "Bi is beautiful" written in the sky. One of the children has dirty blond hair and pale skin, while the other has curly pigtails and light brown skin. Potentially perplexing, though rewarding for the right reader--and empowering for all.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
