Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora’s irresistible illustrations of enthusiastic toddlers will have budding gymnasts jumping for joy.
Jake and his diverse group of friend love their action-packed gymnastics class, where they stretch, tumble, balance, turn somersaults and so much more. This is the perfect book to introduce toddlers to the joy of movement and the fun of gymnastics.
“Veteran author and illustrator Isadora creates another collection of charming vignettes of a delightfully diverse group of preschoolers. . . . These kids are clearly having a lot of fun. . . . The chubby kids’ refreshingly natural postures and body language set this book apart from renderings of more conventionally pretty children, allowing young gymnasts of all ability levels to identify. . . . Beginning readers will be attracted to the simple text, especially to the single-word exclamations in brightly colored speech bubbles. Readers will no doubt want to get down on the floor and do some gymnastics of their own.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Like the author’s Bea at Ballet, this alliteratively titled picture book is a gentle introduction to a preschool activity. . . . In the all-around welcoming environment Isadora presents, children are happy and well cared for and are eased into a gym routine with stretches and creative play. The kids are adorably round and smiley. . . . They encourage each other, which may not be completely accurate in terms of toddler behavior but certainly isn’t a bad model to represent. Isadora’s appealing illustrations feature a multicultural group dressed brightly against a minimalist background.” — Booklist
“The real joy comes through Isadora’s sprightly illustrations. . . . Few other picture book artists have as good an understanding of the toddler’s center of gravity as Isadora, and when she uses her expertise to show them hopping, tumbling, balancing, and pretending to fly like birds, you can’t help but enjoy the show. Best of all is the page of young gymnasts on the bouncing balls. Each one appears to be enjoying his or her own moment of zen—a bit of private happiness in the midst of a busy class.” — The Horn Book
Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.
Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Award.
View titles by Rachel Isadora
Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora’s irresistible illustrations of enthusiastic toddlers will have budding gymnasts jumping for joy.
Jake and his diverse group of friend love their action-packed gymnastics class, where they stretch, tumble, balance, turn somersaults and so much more. This is the perfect book to introduce toddlers to the joy of movement and the fun of gymnastics.
Reviews
“Veteran author and illustrator Isadora creates another collection of charming vignettes of a delightfully diverse group of preschoolers. . . . These kids are clearly having a lot of fun. . . . The chubby kids’ refreshingly natural postures and body language set this book apart from renderings of more conventionally pretty children, allowing young gymnasts of all ability levels to identify. . . . Beginning readers will be attracted to the simple text, especially to the single-word exclamations in brightly colored speech bubbles. Readers will no doubt want to get down on the floor and do some gymnastics of their own.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Like the author’s Bea at Ballet, this alliteratively titled picture book is a gentle introduction to a preschool activity. . . . In the all-around welcoming environment Isadora presents, children are happy and well cared for and are eased into a gym routine with stretches and creative play. The kids are adorably round and smiley. . . . They encourage each other, which may not be completely accurate in terms of toddler behavior but certainly isn’t a bad model to represent. Isadora’s appealing illustrations feature a multicultural group dressed brightly against a minimalist background.” — Booklist
“The real joy comes through Isadora’s sprightly illustrations. . . . Few other picture book artists have as good an understanding of the toddler’s center of gravity as Isadora, and when she uses her expertise to show them hopping, tumbling, balancing, and pretending to fly like birds, you can’t help but enjoy the show. Best of all is the page of young gymnasts on the bouncing balls. Each one appears to be enjoying his or her own moment of zen—a bit of private happiness in the midst of a busy class.” — The Horn Book
Author
Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.
Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Award.
View titles by Rachel Isadora
