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This is Sadie

by Sara O’Leary; Julie Morstad (illus.)

Sadie is precocious. Sadie is adventurous. Sadie travels the world by ship without ever leaving her bedroom. In This is Sadie, Sara O’Leary and Julie Morstad – the writer and illustrator of the award-winning Henry series – celebrate the joy of creativity and the beautiful chaos of imaginative play.

This is Sadie coverExploring a day in the life of a very inventive little girl, O’Leary and Morstad focus on a particular time in children’s lives when they are old enough to be left to explore their still vibrant imaginations without the peskiness of adult supervision. Careful not to wake up the old people who “need a lot of sleep,” Sadie begins her day quietly (with the possible exceptions of hammering together important materials for her fort and playing her favourite song on the record player). She gets ready for school by putting all of her things away (shoving everything under her bed), then plays with friends – both real and imaginary. Thanks to a love of books, Sadie has travelled under the sea, into the wild, and to Wonderland for tea. There are “so many things to make and do and be” that Sadie wishes the days were just a little bit longer.

O’Leary and Morstad invite kids to see beyond what’s presented on the page – to see past the box, the tree, and their own physical limitations and join Sadie on her adventures. Morstad’s delightful Easter eggs will encourage more interaction, as Sadie’s stuffed fox follows her wherever she goes, hiding in plain view under the covers, behind a bush, or waiting patiently in the bicycle basket until it is finally time for bed.

Morstad’s soft-palette illustrations engage perfectly with O’Leary’s text, creating a whimsical kid-centred picture book that will be enjoyed by both children and adults. With something new to discover upon each encounter, This is Sadie is sure to become a favourite bedtime read.

 

Reviewer: Melanie Fishbane

Publisher: Tundra Books

DETAILS

Price: $19.99

Page Count: 32 pp

Format: Cloth

ISBN: 978-1-77049-532-6

Released: May

Issue Date: May 2015

Categories: Picture Books

Age Range: 3-7