Fireworks

First sentence: In the summer, the sun rises
between buildings on our block
to greet us at breakfast,
and it beats warmer and brighter
when we venture out across
steamy city sidewalks.

Premise/plot: A poetic look at a summer day. It is implied that it is the fourth of July, though, that is not stated specifically. But there is a HUGE fireworks display in the evening that they (siblings?) watch from the rooftop.

My thoughts: What makes this one pop? POETIC language, great imagery, and phenomenal illustrations. I love, love, love, love, LOVE the illustrations. I do. The illustrations are incredible. The text is so descriptive and packed with imagery.

After finding out this book won this year's Caldecott award, I wanted to read it. I was so glad I did. It's about two girls in the summer trying to keep cool and at the end of the hot summer today, going to the rooftop to watch fireworks. Artwork is beautiful, the fold out page is stunningly beautiful and the words are magical.

Fireworks, from frequent collaborators Burgess and Chien (The Bear and the Moon) follow two children through a hot city Fourth of July. Burgress and Chien are able to capture the carefree and expansive nature of a child's summer day as the kids play in water sprouting from a fire hydrant, as they walk through a lively park, eat watermelon, and dance to the beat of salsa music. When the sun sets, they climb the rickety ladder to their rooftop to watch fireworks pop, poof, tizzle-ting, and boom. The mulitmedia art is expressive, and full of bright colors (I really love the use of pink) that pop against earthtones. The text balances the narrative descriptions with onomatopoetic flourishes. Fireworks is a great book, that celebrates the show more joys of summer, the freedom of youth, and diversity of America. show less

Part poem, part portable fireworks display, this picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Catia Chien highlights the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly await a spectacular fireworks display. POP! As a hot day sizzles into evening, everyone on stoops and sidewalks looks skyward on this special summer night -- the Fourth of July

Fireworks is a book about New York city on the 4th of July. Colorful illustrations represent how the sky lights up and even includes a flap to open to expand the page to give a cool effect to the story. This book would be a great independent read for students as it includes allot of picture and is easy to follow. Would be good to put on shelves as summer nears. I would recommend this book to children in grades k-3.

See also: Blackout by John Rocco, Pie is for Sharing by Ledyard/Chin, Hot Dog by Doug Salati

A pair of siblings experience a hot summer day in the city, with a trip to the bodega and the park, slices of watermelon, salsa music, and fireworks viewed from the rooftop. There's an awe-inducing gatefold of the fireworks before the children settle into sleep... "Ahhh / to be tucked in / with summer on our skin, / listening / to the gentlest / kaboom kaboom / ...within."

Lovely pictures. Very New York City story.