One Girl

There is a trend in picture books right now that attempt to tackle subjects and emotions with beautiful illustrations but text that doesn't lend itself to children's comprehension levels or engagement. I love the powerful message that this book is trying to share and as an adult, it was beautiful but my children didn't connect with the book and it was too abstract for them to piece together the message without lots of intervention and explaining from me. While I appreciate a book that sparks a great conversation between children and their caregivers, I also want the book to appeal to the child in a way that they can engage with it independently as well. I feel like this whole genre of picture books is missing that opportunity.

Beaty's spare poetic text celebrates the power of a single book given to a single girl to have an enormous potential to change her entire world: "One Girl. One spark. Glowing. Glowing in the dark." It's the luminous, over-sized, absolutely stunning illustrations by phenomenally talented illustrator Down Phumiruk, however, that are the reason for my five-star ranking. The cover image of this "one girl," book in hand, clutching her pencil, with a garden of promise growing out from it, is one of the most beautiful book covers I've ever seen, and the subsequent illustrations live up to the standard of excellence it sets. They make me want to linger in the pages of this book and then work to make my own world a better reflection of the joy in learning they convey.

Andrea Beaty's lyrical text and Dom Phumiruk's gentle, muted illustrations in One Girl help us understand how books and education can change a child's life. From the first page we are invited to go along on one young girl's journey as she discovers the magic of a book. When she is given the opportunity to attend school, she not only shares the wonder of stories with her classmates, but is given the encouragement to write her own books. She shares her books with the children of the world, inspiring them to catch the spark of reading and shine their own lights into our world.<br />This touching story shows the importance of education and how one person can inspire change. It’s one that reminds us how vitally important it is that ALL children have the opportunity to receive an education. Finally, it’s one for the book lovers in your life, no matter what their age. <br />

Lyrical picture book that celebrates reading, the imagination and empowerment. What is not to love? Probably best for an older reader but any child can benefit from the text with a bit of adult explanation. The illustrations are detailed and absolutely terrific.

Every girl in the world needs to read this book and own this book... it is gorgeous, and brilliant and a beautiful social message that is simple, heartfelt and timely.. plus the illustrations are just exquisitely divine! (5 sparking stars).

<i>Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.</i>

The art is really beautiful, but the text is some sappy, generic shit.

A beautifully illustrated poetic book for kids.

This book was like a stretched poem. A well-illustrated journey about the spark within ourselves.

A beautiful book about sparking knowledge via books read, shared and written.