Evie's Field Day

February 15, 2020
A competitive youth learns the value of kindness over victory. Evie can run, jump, and hop the fastest, highest, and farthest. She also has the "trophies and ribbons" to prove it. Her love of accolades is what makes the upcoming Field Day so exciting. "Zing! Zing! Zip!" When it's Evie's turn at beanbag toss, she misses all three times. Everyone shouts, "Hooray!" for the winner. "Except Evie." Next it's "musical hoops," and even though Evie can hop the farthest, Marty wins. Evie and her friends are largely portrayed in black and white with pops of bright colors in clothing, props, and accessories. The succinct text narrates as Evie attempts more carnival games: balancing a glass of water on her head, running with an egg on a spoon, or a balloon-stomping competition. Despite her best efforts she is still empty handed. Finally her "favorite event--the sack race" provides her a chance. "Evie jumped high, Evie jumped fast. Evie jumped far. She was winning!" Just then a baby bird in the middle of the route forces her to stop and quickly make a choice whether a ribbon or an act of compassion is more important. Teba infuses each scene with charm and energy. Within the black-and-white color schema, Evie has dark hair and medium-toned skin, and her friends are diverse. Resources on fostering sportsmanship follow the story. A lively read-aloud promoting the virtues of sportsmanship. (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 2-Evie is a competitor and proudly displays her trophies and ribbons on her bedroom wall. She eagerly awaits Field Day at school and plans on jumping, running, and hopping her way to more awards. The day arrives and she participates in the beanbag toss, musical hoops, and balloon stomp-but she keeps losing! The sack race is her last chance at a first place prize. Evie's ahead in the race but sees a fledgling on the ground that is in danger of getting hurt as the children hop to the finish line. She decides to stop mid-race and help the fledgling fly back to its nest and mother high up in a nearby tree. Her good deed lands her in last place again, but she is greeted with cheers of "Hooray!" Evie realizes that losing isn't so bad after all. Echoic words scattered throughout the text put some zing into the story and highlight the Field Day activities. Teba's adorable pencil sketches and gray watercolor washes are accentuated with bursts of color that highlight the multiethnic characters and action of the story. Sportsmanship strategies are included, encouraging participative learning. VERDICT Realistic portrayals of competition and teamwork make this a strong addition to any library.-Rita Christensen, Orem Public Library, UT

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