Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow - Hardcover

Cuevas, Michelle

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525429697 ISBN 13: 9780525429692

Publisher: Rocky Pond Books, 2017

Synopsis

A brave shadow finds a more colorful life in this joyous picture book by the acclaimed author of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles and illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers.
 
Smoot the shadow has been living a yawn-filled life for years. His boy never laughs and never leaps, so Smoot never does either . . . until the day he pops free, and decides to hit the road in search of the life he dreams about. And as he enjoys his first colorful day—singing, dancing, and playing—other shadows watch him, and they become brave, too. The frog's shadow takes the shape of a prince, the dragonfly's shadow that of a dragon. Even the rock's shadow gets in on the excitement. But what will become of the timid beings their shadows have left behind? Will they finally be inspired to find their own daring?

About this title

About the Author

Michelle Cuevas graduated from Williams College and holds a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of Virginia. She lives in Massachusetts.
 
Sydney Smith was born in Nova Scotia and has a BFA in drawing and printmaking from NSCAD University. He is an award-winning children's book illustrator whose work can sometimes also be found in magazines and on festival posters and album covers. Sydney also plays a little banjo, stands on his hands, and can ride his bike really fast. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his wife and baby son.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—A bored shadow cuts loose and explores the wider world. Tired of being bound to a young boy and having to "[brush] the same teeth, [frown] the same frown, and [draw] the same pictures—always staying perfectly inside the line," Smoot the shadow dreams of singing "canary-yellow songs" and dancing "in wildflower red." When he's suddenly popped free of his boy, he skips rope in the playground with a pair of kids, rides a merry-go-round, and climbs a tall tree—all captured in a six-page wordless sequence. The other shadows see all the fun Smoot's having and decide to join the rebellion. A frog's shadow takes the shape of a haughty prince, a dragonfly's shadow transforms into a fearsome fire-breathing dragon, and the seemingly humble shadow of a rock morphs into a towering castle. The shadows are having more fun than their owners! Just when it seems as if the entire world's population of shadows will leave their natural places, Smoot helps bring them back where they belong and, in the process, helps the shadow's owners—and his own boy—live life more fully. Confident storytelling and humorous details ("He packed a few things—some shade, some moonlight, a change of underpants—and hit the road.") make for a delightful read-aloud. Smith's loose line and fluid ink and watercolors perfectly capture the ever-so-slightly mischievous and joyful tone of Cuevas's text. Thick black crayon defines Smoot and his fellow shadowkind. VERDICT Young readers will be hooked by the beguiling premise and respond to the gently delivered message about living life with intention and imagination.—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Rocky Pond Books
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0525429697
• ISBN 13: 9780525429692
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Smith Sydney