Lines

Readers are transported into a wintry wonderland of exuberant bliss in this picture book that speaks to those who like to explore the boundaries of creative expression.

As she did in Wave and Shadow, Lee explores the possibilities of the picture book as she draws a parallel between a solitary figure skater and the solitary artist who sketches her. The skater soars across the white pages, etching sinuous lines on the ice, a breathtaking vision of continuous motion. But then the skater leaps, spins, teeters off balance, and crashes hard; her red knit cap goes flying. A page turn translates the skater's failure into the language of the artist: readers see a drawing crumpled in angry frustration, an eraser cast aside. Another page turn shows the skater's slow recovery--and the artist's--as the crumpled sheet of paper is spread out; on it, the skater sits gazing at her hat. A host of other skaters tumble about her, sprawling ungracefully, all with broad grins. Someone offers her a hand, and suddenly they're all skating together. Skaters fail, artists make bad drawings--that's how learning happens. And when a person is part of a community, it's easier to keep one's balance. For a story about making mistakes, Lee's work is nearly flawless. Ages 3-5. (Sept.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 3--An unseen artist sketches a deft ice skater making beautiful lines on the ice. Straight lines, squiggles, and curls, the combinations are endless. Then, suddenly, the ice skater falls, disrupting the fluidity and gracefulness of the story. The artist seems displeased with this development and starts anew on the following page. In this wordless picture book by Lee, readers can tell when the artist is changing the story line by the crinkled sketch paper and erasure mark illustrations. Through drawings alone, the message that everyone falls, but it is important to get back up and try again is delivered flawlessly. Supremely crisp, clean, and appealing, this is the kind of artwork that will entice readers to return to the pages again and again to see what detail they may have missed. The pages of the book are mostly a bright white, touched by the gray lines of the pencil drawings. The tiny splashes of color pop in the wintry hats and coats of the ice skaters as more figures emerge and the scene unfolds. Somehow, even with the cool white pages and cold, wintry landscape, this picture book for all ages will make readers feel warm inside. VERDICT Any lover of picture books will appreciate this graceful wordless gem. A great discussion starter and drawing prompt to see where a single line might lead.-- Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.