Skip to main content

Bravo!




Bravo!
by Philip Waechter and Moni Port, translated by Sally-Ann Spencer
Gecko Press, 2011. Unpaged. Picture Book.

Helena has a pretty good life--she is a talented trumpet player, she loves her little brother, her Mom is gentle and patient. But Helena's father ALWAYS SHOUTS! There is no end to his loud demands and complaints: WHO ATE ALL THE ORANGES? WHO LEFT THEIR SOCKS IN THE HALL? MY EGG IS TOO RUNNY! When Helena asks her mother why her dad is so loud, she is told that he just comes from a family of shouters and perhaps Helena will grow up to be a shouter, too. Helena doesn't want to be a shouter, so she moves away to live with the lady on top of the hill. Helena's father is totally bereft. He promises never to shout again if Helena will come home. Everyone misses her so much they are excited to pieces to see a poster announcing Helena's trumpet concert. At the concert, Helena's father shouts again, but this time he shouts BRAVO! That's the kind of shout Helena likes to hear. Originally published in German, Bravo! is a delightful story of a young girl who knows she can decide what kind of life she wants to have, and a father sensible enough to mend his ways for his beloved daughter's sake. Well done.

Comments

curlyq saidā€¦
I love the message that a person isn't destined to follow the bad behaviors of their parents and that we can all choose for ourselves how to be and act. Thanks for another great review!

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

I was a kid myself when  The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out  is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...

If You Like...Ladybugs

Spring is almost upon us! We'll have more rain instead of snow, flowers will start blooming, and more bugs will be out. Ladybugs are some of the prettiest insects--and the least intimidating for those more wary of bugs. If you like ladybugs, check out these books! Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool Written by Ali Rutstein Illustrated by NinĢ‹a Nill Richmond, VA: Bright Light, 2024. Picture Book. Ravi loves ladybugs--he eats aphids instead of cornflakes for breakfast, brushes his mandibles instead of teeth, and has a ladybug costume complete with wings and antennae. He is certain that ladybugs don't have to go to preschool, and when Mom says that Ravi still has to go to school, he is nervous. However, thanks to Mom's patience and gentle encouragement, Ravi makes some new friends and realizes that preschool might be a good place for ladybugs after all. A Perfect Spot By Isabelle Simler Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. A ladybug is ready to ...