BIRDIE’S BIG-GIRL SHOES
From the Birdie series
by Sujean Rim & illustrated by Sujean Rim
The sophistication (and agony) of high heels receives a tongue-in-cheek treatment when young Birdie realizes feminine fashion comes with a painful price. Emulation is the sincerest form of flattery when Birdie begs to dress up in her mother’s swank shoes. The child’s successful plea leads to unintended consequences: Playing is nearly impossible when tottering in towering pumps. Accordingly, a blistered Birdie chooses barefoot comfort over style. Text and art successfully merge throughout, mom’s extensive shoe collection of “crocodile pumps and her summer peep-toes and all her strappy sandals” dominating each spread. Varying fonts enhance the light narrative. Rim’s bold, retro-styled watercolor collages maintain focus on the disproportionate characters, and textured accents provide spunk. It’s too bad mom won’t follow her daughter’s lead (she wears stilettos even when playing tea party) but the family dynamics are spot-on. Kick back and relax for some fashionable fun. (Picture book. 3-6)