PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Pruett and Soo by Nancy Viau
Illustrations from Blue Slip Media & publisher.
ABOUT THE BOOK
With a palette that shifts from grayscale to full color, this engaging story reminds us that what you feel defines who you are—and, sometimes, a friend can help you see that best.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Twitter: @NancyViau1
Instagram: @nancyviau1
Facebook: Nancy Viau
Jorge Lacera was born in Colombia and grew up in Florida. He attended Ringling College of Art and Design and has worked as an artist or art director at major gaming studios and entertainment companies. He is the illustrator of Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies by Megan Lacera and XO, Exoplanet by Deborah Underwood. He lives in Canada with his family. Learn more at studiolacera.com.
Instagram: jlacera
REVIEW
This creative tale highlights the delight of new friendship, the challenges to be found in a new place, and the importance of changing poorly chosen rules. Pruett, a box computer robot looking creature, lives on the planet called Monochrome. In a world of rigid expectations and boring rules, Pruett blends in, mostly. His enjoyment of music and dancing would stand out, if anyone knew about it. When Soo, a bright, colorful, circular creature from Planet Prismatic shows up it's a shock to Pruett and his classmates. She breaks rules left and right by asking questions, using colorful crayons, zig-zagging and wanting to play tag. Despite his desire to join Soo in her rule-breaking, rule-following is just too deeply ingrained in Pruett for him to change his ways. At least until he finds Soo in tears and discovers that he cares more about her than he does about the rules. He bravely asks a question that not only changes his life, but the whole school.
The clever touches in the illustration make this book stand out in delightful ways. Planet Monochrome is, as you might expect, black and white and gray, while Soo from Planet Prismatic is colorful. As Pruett starts to change, he becomes more and more colorful matching his increasing zeal for life. The color starts to spread mimicking the changing behavior as Planet Monochrome's rigid culture slowly starts to change. The text also reflects the changes as the friends get to know each other through questions highlighted in various bright colors. A delightful book with great themes and a smile-inducing presentation. Highly recommended.
ILLUSTRATIONS
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