Matt Tavares

The young doe who won her freedom and that of her family in author/illustrator Matt Tavares' Dasher, and then returned for a second adventure in Dasher Can't Wait for Christmas, is back in this third holiday picture book. Happening upon George, a polar bear who dreams of flight, our cervine heroine attempts to teach him to fly, with no success. Leaving him disappointed, Dasher confides in her mother that night, wondering why George couldn't lift off. Her mother tells her that Christmas magic show more works differently for everyone, and so it proves, as Santa steps in on Christmas Eve night, once the gift deliveries are done, to make George's dreams come true...

I remember very few of my dreams, generally speaking, but one recurring dream I do recall having in childhood was one in which I could fly. It wasn't effortless—as I recall, I had to flap my arms rather vigorously to take off—but it was magical, and made such an impression on me that I remembered the experience even after waking. All of which is to say, I found the premise of Dasher and the Polar Bear utterly charming. I loved the story enough to suspend my disbelief about an encounter between a polar bear and a reindeer, and appreciated the ending, in which George gets to fly after all, but in an unexpected way. I also loved George as a character, with his persistent wonder at the magic of Dasher's flight, and then his own. As with the previous book, the accompanying illustrations here were created digitally, and while there were some scenes (including, unfortunately, the cover) that felt a little flat to me, others were simply beautiful. I loved the two-page spread in which George watches Dasher fly off. All in all, a worthy follow-up to the earlier books, with a magical Christmas tale and appealing artwork. Recommended to anyone who has read and enjoyed Dasher's previous adventures, and to picture book readers who appreciate stories about life at the North Pole, amongst Santa's reindeer. show less

Red and Lulu lived in a majestic evergreen tree in the country. They enjoyed their home in all seasons, but were especially fond of it in winter, when the local humans would decorate the tree and sing songs around it. Then one day, while Red was out hunting for food, the unthinkable happened - people came and cut down the tree, taking Lulu along with them as they carted it away. Red, flying frantically behind, eventually lost sight of both tree and beloved partner. Would he ever find them show more again, especially now that he'd come to this strange, confusing city...?

Having read a few picture-books featuring the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza - most notably, The Christmas Tugboat: How the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Came to New York City - I was curious to see what author/illustrator Matt Tavares would do with the topic in Red and Lulu. All in all, I found his story engaging, and thought his artwork was simply beautiful. Red's quest makes for an involving and poignant story, and the reader will be rooting for him to find Lulu and their tree again. That said, the story does raise questions about the entire practice of cutting down trees for temporary holiday decorations, and some readers will (like me) come away thinking that although it's nice that Red found Lulu again, it would have been far better for him not to have lost her and his home in the first place. That concern aside, this was a lovely Christmas tale, one I would recommend particularly to those looking for holiday picture-books featuring wildlife, whether rural or urban, as well as to those who appreciate beautifully illustrated children's stories. show less

I loved this, the way Judi’s story comes full circle on the basketball court, the friendships, and the honest depiction (based on a true story) of what an uphill battle women endure just to participate in sports. I loved the fight in these girls and their coach, they shouldn’t have had to look for solutions when it came to uniforms, gym time, transportation, etc., but the lack of give up in them made for an enjoyable and admirable journey.

The same day I read this graphic novel, I show more listened to a podcast involving another sport, the guys on the podcast asked the lone female how she’d feel to be the wife/sister/mother watching her man compete, it never occurred to her or to the guys to ask how she’d feel in the athlete’s shoes, that was strictly the guys’ domain. It was kind of nauseating. And listening to that made me appreciate this book all the more.

I don’t have an athletic bone in my body, but for the females who do, I hope that instead of hearing some podcast or person limit them to traditional roles, they find thoughtful books like Hoops that show them that realizing the dream of making the winning shot or even just fantasizing about such a moment, isn’t just reserved for boys. show less

I mean, sports graphic novels are all about heart, and this one follows that tradition spectacularly. Shows us how Title IX changed high school sports fundamentally, but does it in a way where we see the impact on the characters, and where we can see unfairness painted large. I wish we had parity in sports today, and I think books like this will help make that happen. Great read, very accessible, very well done for the target audience.