Lucianovic, Stephanie V. W. Touch the Sky. Chris Park, Illus. Carolrhoda, 05/2024. 32pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-7284-6045-1. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.
Young Vern’s frustrated attempts at learning to swing lead to a high-spirited journey when he meets Gretchen, who can swoop till her toes touch the sky and offers to teach him how. This small moment of childhood is portrayed with momentous importance through concise, descriptive language and the use of exuberant color, strong composition, and gestural mixed-media sweeping the reader fully into the all-encompassing moment when despair shifts to exhilaration and joy. The vibrant images of children (both with light skin) and well-integrated dramatic text pull us directly into a child’s world of desire, struggle and effort when on the very edge of learning something new. Elongated, swooping double-page spreads capture the hard-earned elation of finally and successfully swinging to touch the sky . . . and, of course, the excitement of passing it on to the next eager learner. “Do you want to learn how?”
Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library