Kick Push

About the Author\nFRANK MORRISON is a renowned fine artist whose work was featured in Our Children Can Soar. He has lent his talents to many picture books, including Alex Rodriguez's Out of the Ballpark, Queen Latifah's Queen of the Scene, and Brenda Roberts' Jazzy Miz Mozetta, for which he won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. He lives in Georgia.\nAward-winning picture book creator Frank Morrison makes his author/illustrator debut in an exuberant story about being yourself.\nEpic has tricks you won't believe. He's the kick flipping, big rail king. When his family moves to a new neighborhood, he can't wait to hit the street with his skateboard. But his old moves don't feel fresh without a crew to see 'em. Epic thinks about giving up his board to fit in, but an encouraging word from his dad helps him see that the trick to making new friends is to always be yourself. Be you. . . be epic!\nAward-winning illustrator Frank Morrison offers a heartwarming, dynamic celebration of self-expression, inspired by his own journey through fatherhood.\nFrom School Library Journal\nK-Gr 2-Ivan is an epic skater-in fact, his moves on the board are so jaw-droppingly awesome that even his parents call him Epic. Like the tricks he's mastered on his board, Epic anticipates mastering the transition to his new school and neighborhood. However, finding new friends that are interested in skateboarding is a bit more difficult than expected, so Epic tries a different approach for fitting in: He tries out the other sports the neighborhood kids play. This, Epic learns, is easier in theory than practice, as he discovers that sometimes fitting in is simply being true to himself. This debut picture book from Morrison features his signature characters with highly expressive movements that capture acutely the feeling of living and thriving in the big city. Epic, an Black boy with a crown of natural hair, soars through the neighborhood on his board in a manner that evokes freedom and pure joy. His skateboard tricks, juxtaposed against a backdrop of focused, multicultural kids engaged in activities they enjoy, send the message that there is room for everyone to pursue their passions. VERDICT A beautifully illustrated book about the exhilaration of being yourself. Recommended for all school and public library collections.-Tamela Chambers, Chicago P. L.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.