Polar Skater - Hardcover

Sally Grindley is an internationally well-known and respected children’s author. She has written many award-winning books, including "Shhh!" (Hodder Children’s Books, 1999), which won the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Picture Book Prize; "Knock Knock, Who’s There?" (Puffin Books, 1995); and "Archie’s Amazing Adventure" (Chrysalis Children’s Books, 2003). She lives in Gloucestershire, England with her three sons.

PreSchool-Grade 2 - A little girl takes her first spin on her new birthday ice skates. "I floundered and fell,/Stood up and fell down again,/I tried hard to laugh/But tears prickled my eyes." With the encouragement of her father, she weaves in and out of the skaters until her hand loses his grip. Soon she is off on an adventure across a strange and beautiful polar landscape sliding past polar bears, whales, wolves, and snow geese. As she heads back to the other skaters, she cheers, " 'I can skate, look at me! '" For anyone who has struggled to balance on the ice (or to master any difficult sports activity), this fanciful victory is sure to hit the spot. Hieta's dreamy paintings are richly hued and capture both the lumpy stillness of the walruses and the dizzying dives made by narwhals. The close-up of the happy skater is a charming portrait of a pink-cheeked, wide-eyed child. A pleasant and inspiring addition. - Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT
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