NEW RELEASE and REVIEW
Jump!
by Julia Dweck
Jump! is Julia Dweck's latest release. You can read my review below. You can also read my earlier posts and reviews of some of Julia's other books: Blucy (blog post), Mary had a Sleepy Sheep (blog post), Humpfree: The Humpless Camel (blog post), Faux Paw (blog post), Zippity-Zoo (blog post), and Monkey Fun! (blog post).
Description
What’s a Jack-in-the-box without his home? Poor Jack has never jumped out of anything before, but his worn out box. Can Barker, the neighborhood dog, prove to Jack that there are many more exciting jumps outside in the great, big world?
Young readers will find lots of giggles in the rhyming text and wondrous jumps that Barker and Jack discover together. The full screen art by illustrator, Brian Allen, positively leaps off the page. The author, Julia Dweck, has done a wonderful job of weaving in the subtle message that it’s important to believe in yourself and to think outside of the box in order to realize life’s wondrous possibilities.
This bouncy tale from Sleepy Sheep Productions will leave young readers jumping for joy! Leveled for young readers ages 4–8, but relevant to readers of all ages.
Excerpt
Jack’s little heart began to thump,
As he prepared to take a jump.
He swung around and then he flexed.
His thousandth jump was coming next.
Then tightening his coils, he sank,
And listened to the music crank.
He sprung out free, no longer trapped.
His rusty spring broke loose and SNAPPED!
As he prepared to take a jump.
He swung around and then he flexed.
His thousandth jump was coming next.
Then tightening his coils, he sank,
And listened to the music crank.
He sprung out free, no longer trapped.
His rusty spring broke loose and SNAPPED!
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Jack is a Jack-in-the-box, but not for long! His spring breaks, catapulting him into the unknown. Jack can't find his box and believes he can't jump without it. However, her meets a new friend who shows him that anything is possible if you give it a try.
This is a bright and colorful book, with an entertaining and adventurous story told in rhyme. Brian Allen's illustrations fairly jump off the page and add a special element to the book. The story itself contains a great message about self-belief. As the author states, "If you believe in yourself, you can jump with your eyes wide open."
The story is followed by interesting jumping facts, a scrambled word game (not easy!), and story writing tips.
A great motivational book for kids of all ages.
About the Author
Julia Dweck writes children's stories for digital and traditional publication. Her stories span the spectrum of humor, fantasy, and edutainment in rhyme and in prose. Check out her newest ebooks, Blucy, Mary had a Sleepy Sheep, Humpfree: The Humpless Camel, Faux Paw, Zippity-Zoo, Monkey Fun!, and Jump!.
Julia's background in elementary education affords her the opportunity to be in touch with what children want to read and what makes them giggle. She's collaborated with leading artists in the world of children's literature to produce over thirty books. Her titles have garnered placement on Amazon's bestsellers in children's color picture books multiple times with two #1 bestsellers: Pie-Rits and Zombie-Kids. These titles have been chosen by Amazon Editors for the prestigious "Kindle Daily Deal". Many of Julia's titles have earned placement on Amazon's top ranked lists based on customer review.
In her spare time, Julia is a designer of educational adjuncts for children's literature, and has worked with such notable publishing houses as Penguin Young Readers. She presented at the 2012 National Center for Family Literacy for her creative use of technology in the classroom.
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