Kirkus Reviews QR Code
EXTRAORDINARY!  by Penny Harrison

EXTRAORDINARY!

by Penny Harrison ; illustrated by Katie Wilson

Pub Date: March 1st, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68464-144-4
Publisher: Kane Miller

Memories of the most ordinary of experiences will remind us to find those simple moments to share with our children.

Imagine “skipping through stars” and “harnessing unicorns.” Remember a “soft, quiet moment that makes the world sing,” and “treasure…the magic you make” when ordinary occasions become extraordinary. Think of the adventure that is seeing a shooting star or being high on a hill that’s “soaring with birds.” Picture “breathing the stillness of forests” while winding among giant trees. Detailed scenes depict both countryside and cityscapes while the diverse characters that are shown throughout the story make this a comforting book many will find themselves in. Brilliantly rendered illustrations include both full double-page spreads and smaller panels, and they have the look and feel of watercolor paintings. Perspectives are shown from the air, under the water, in a dense forest, and looking up at the starry skies. Also shown is the simple joy of reading while curled up next to a cozy fireplace, digging vegetables in a garden, and sleeping in a tent. The imagery makes this lyrical poem “twinkle and shine” and will have children searching for details.

This sweet book celebrates not only extraordinary moments, but the special beauty found in ordinary ones.

(Picture book. 4-8)