Overview

"""A deceptively simple story that celebrates individuality, acceptance, and friendship....Litten's message [is] about the value of breaking outside of one's comfort zone--and getting to know people who don't look exactly like you."" --Publishers Weekly ""The simple artwork is expressive and engaging....A sweet, empowering tale to share one-on-one or in a story time.""--School Library Journal ""Aside from offering a satisfying friendship story, this book celebrates differences and shows how enriching diversity can be."" --Booklist A charming picture book about a lost giraffe and his new friend who helps him find his way home and see the world from a new perspective. Bertie the giraffe's life is very simple and predictable: every day, he and his herd nibble leaves, sip water, and nap. But one day, Bertie oversleeps and wakes up lost and alone. Well, not quite alone--he meets Blue, a lonely blue giraffe who offers to show him the way home. On the way, Blue has a lot to show his new friend about the wonders of the world that Bertie had never noticed before. But when Bertie gets home, will his herd welcome Blue, even though he is different? Filled with lyrical text and irresistible illustrations, this sweet tale about friendship teaches young readers about embracing differences and celebrating new perspectives."

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9781481461542

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Reviews

Mismatched animalswho become friends are a common theme in picture books, and this one is visualproof that a real friend is true blue. Every day is the same forBertie and the other yellow giraffes. They nibble leaves from the treetops, drinkcooling water at the water hole, and then snooze. That is, until the day whenBertie oversleeps and wakes up alone. Without the rest of the tower, he islost. How will he find his way home? Just as he starts to cry, a shy creaturesteps forward he's just like Bertie, only blue! Not only does Blue show him theway home, but he draws Bertie's attention to all kinds of unnoticed things, like rare flowers. Best of all, the other yellow giraffes love Blue, and fromthen on they all see things a little bit differently each day. Sound effects( crunchity-crunch, sip, slurp, trit trot )pepper the text, adding some liveliness. The giraffes are depicted with brown(or blue) polka dots and spindly legs, and the stylized flora in the backgroundadds to the whimsy. One fanciful image shows the sleeping giraffes with theirnecks curled in loops; another, tall, vertical spread underscores the giraffes'long necks. The theme of feeling different and finding a friend is predictablehere, but kids will enjoy the colorful illustrations and laid-back delivery. Agentle story with a sweet message that doesn't hit readers over the head.(Picture book. 4-7)--Kirkus Reviews 3/15/16

Bertie the giraffe has a predictable but happy life. Each day he and his herd nibble leaves from trees ( crunchity-crunch ), drink from the watering hole ( sip, slurp ), and curl up for a nap ( snore, snore ). One day, though, Bertie oversleeps and wakes up to find his herd has moved on without him. Lost and alone, Bertie wanders through some woods where he encounters another giraffe just like him, only he is blue. Acting as guide, Blue leads Bertie through the wilderness back to his herd, pointing out many wonders along the way a beautiful flower, galloping zebras, colorful birds. Bertie is amazed by it all and invites his new friend to join the herd. Not only do they accept Blue, their lives are made better by all the new things Blue has to share. Litten s sweet illustrations make good use of white space and vibrant color, and the giraffes faces are wonderfully expressive. Aside from offering a satisfying friendship story, this book celebrates differences and shows how enriching diversity can be.--Booklist online May 18, 2016

Bertie the giraffe has a predictable but happy life. Each day he and his herd nibble leaves from trees ( <i>crunchity-crunch</i>), drink from the watering hole (<i>sip, slurp</i>), and curl up for a nap (<i>snore, snore</i>). One day, though, Bertie oversleeps and wakes up to find his herd has moved on without him. Lost and alone, Bertie wanders through some woods where he encounters another giraffe just like him, only he is blue. Acting as guide, Blue leads Bertie through the wilderness back to his herd, pointing out many wonders along the way a beautiful flower, galloping zebras, colorful birds. Bertie is amazed by it all and invites his new friend to join the herd. Not only do they accept Blue, their lives are made better by all the new things Blue has to share. Litten s sweet illustrations make good use of white space and vibrant color, and the giraffes faces are wonderfully expressive. Aside from offering a satisfying friendship story, this book celebrates differences and shows how enriching diversity can be.--Booklist online May 18, 2016

Author Information

Kristyna studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and graduated in 2010. She now lives in a beautiful village in Yorkshire. Her first picture book, Flint's Odd Socks, followed by Chickens Can't See In The Dark were highly commended for the Macmillan Prize two years running. Kristyna has written and illustrated the brilliant Blue & Bertie and Norton & Alpha for Simon & Schuster, and the stunning Ziggy and the Moonlight Show will publish in 2018.

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