Norm
by Sylvia Liang (Author)
Norm lives in a town where everything is orderly and everything is measured--even the roses! There's a uniform height for every tree and a standard look for every person. Anyone who dares to stray from the rules is likely to be noticed. One day, as Norm is going about his daily routine, a brightly colored bird catches his eye and he follows it until it lands on an extraordinary flower. At first, Norm is afraid--everything outside his town is so unruly! He discovers flowers that are bigger than trees, magical houses shaped like bubbles, and an incredible diversity of people in all shapes and sizes. Norm no longer feels the security of his ruled and measured world, but thanks to the friendship of a young girl named Jess, he begins to see that although sometimes order and uniformity can be useful (in a library, for example), it can also limit the possibilities for creativity, self- expression, and wonderful surprises that ignite the imagination. Norm returns to his town with the newfound understanding that some things in life can't be measured, and little by little, he begins to let go of the rules. A highly topical commentary on the value of personal freedoms, Norm teaches an important lesson through its gentle and whimsical narrative.
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School Library Journal
"It's ok to be different" is one of the messages of this quirky picture book from debut author/illustrator Liang. Norm and his friends "Plain" and "Simple" live in a town where everything is exactly the same, and they are happy that way. They spend their days measuring everything, until Norm is swept away by a strange yellow bird and a girl named Odd (short for "Odette"). He discovers a fantastical place where every being is unique, and, though he is nervous at first, discovers the beauty in standing out. Norm narrates the book in first person with short sentences and childlike confidence. His realization, "It's the things that can't be measured that I like most," does not come off as heavy-handed or didactic, and his discomfort at experiencing new situations will ring true for many children. The illustrations in pencil and gouache are clever and unique. Norm and his chums are precious, and Odd's colorful neighborhood and neighbors are surreal and straight out of a child's fantasy. Liang plays with perspective and size in this setting leaving readers to question whether Norm has experienced this journey in reality or in his imagination. VERDICT This one-of-a-kind offering is a comforting reassurance that being normal can mean being the same or being different or a little of each. It comes in a beautiful package that will remind readers of the works of Carson Ellis.
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV039100 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Peer Pressure
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Behavior
Individuality
Conduct of life
Juvenile works
Individuality in children
