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colleenish's review
3.0
I hate books that start out with a dramatic kid-crushing problem in the first three pages, as this one did. And I like the idea of poetry, but I often find that it makes books try to be more profound than they actually were.
In spite of all of this, I enjoyed this book and the characters in it.
In spite of all of this, I enjoyed this book and the characters in it.
tashrow's review
4.0
Bindi is facing a lot of changes in her life. First, her father has left their family to find a job in another city. A few months later, she learns that her parents have separated. Now her mother and her aunt are starting a restaurant called The Dancing Pancake. They will be moving into the apartment above the restaurant and out of their house. As all of these changes hit, Bindi finds herself feeling sad and angry about them. People at the restaurant and her extended family help her deal with her feelings and show her the positive in her life.
This verse novel features a full cast of interesting characters. The poems are written from Bindi’s point of view. She is a protagonist who is open and honest about her feelings, even when she is struggling with them. She offers readers a clear view of what children deal with when parents separate and life changes. At the same time, she is uniquely Bindi, a girl who loves to read, worries about what sort of friend she is, and tries to help others whenever she can.
Spinelli’s verse is short and sweet. It has a clarity and understated feel to it that makes it very easy to read. Lew-Vriethoff’s illustrations have a breezy, effortless quality to them. They are simple line drawings that capture the moments in the book. The verse format and the illustrations throughout the book will make this a very inviting title for young readers.
Highly recommended, this book strikes just the right balance between a girl’s life falling apart and a family ready to catch and hold her. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
This verse novel features a full cast of interesting characters. The poems are written from Bindi’s point of view. She is a protagonist who is open and honest about her feelings, even when she is struggling with them. She offers readers a clear view of what children deal with when parents separate and life changes. At the same time, she is uniquely Bindi, a girl who loves to read, worries about what sort of friend she is, and tries to help others whenever she can.
Spinelli’s verse is short and sweet. It has a clarity and understated feel to it that makes it very easy to read. Lew-Vriethoff’s illustrations have a breezy, effortless quality to them. They are simple line drawings that capture the moments in the book. The verse format and the illustrations throughout the book will make this a very inviting title for young readers.
Highly recommended, this book strikes just the right balance between a girl’s life falling apart and a family ready to catch and hold her. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
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