Tag Archives: Trying New Things

Elem. – The World’s Longest Licorice Rope

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Myers, Matt. The World’s Longest Licorice Rope. Random House Studio, 2022. Unpaged. $27.99 978-0-593-18001-3. Grades K-2.

Ben has one nickel, but he wants more, so he searches and works, and works some more until he has a bagful of nickels. From the many choices, he chooses the world’s longest licorice rope from a girl. He chews and chews and each time he has to stop (at the water, at the lion, at the cliff, etc.), the girl is there to offer what he needs (a boat, a costume, a hot air balloon, etc.) for another nickel. Finally, tired and with just one nickel remaining, he spies another boy chewing the licorice rope and walking toward him! They both say they have the world’s longest licorice rope. The girl is there again, this time offering them friendship for a nickel.  “Friends are free!” they laugh, and walk off together with the girl joining them, to new imagined adventures. This clever book could be used for math, travel, or friendship discussions (how does one go about finding a friend?) with a positive outcome for the characters. 

THOUGHTS: Insightful and useful for appreciating friendships.  

Picture Book Melissa Scott, Shenango Area SD

Friendship; Trying new things; Surprises

Elem. – When You Take a Step

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Murguia, Bethanie Deeney. When You Take a Step. Beach Lane Books, 2022. Unpaged. $18.99 978-1-534-47367-6. Grades K-2.

This book opens with a question, “What happens when you take a step?” then offers a variety of answers, each illustrated appropriately with various children stepping in different ways.  The words give a sense of optimism and openness to the steps one might take. “You share a path. You share a rhythm. You gather courage and try again.”  The black and white illustrations are a clever backdrop for the bright red shoes of the characters. There are links to the past and to the future, “and you make the world better/ when you take a step” and on the last page spread, the color pink infuses the black and white parade scene. 

THOUGHTS: A quiet book to encourage readers that the next step is worth taking, and good things will come as you keep trying.    

Picture Book          Melissa Scott, Shenango Area SD