Soar

Synopsis:

Ramone, a shy, ruby-throated hummingbird, is about to leave the nest for the first time. But his anxiety and fear keep him from taking off as he contemplates all that could go wrong. Full of kind words and encouragement, Ramone’s mother gives him room to work through his emotions, building his confidence and letting him set his own pace. Ramone watches as his friends soar through the sky, realizing all he might miss out on if he doesn’t conquer his fear. Ramone’s adventure showcases the emotions, both positive and negative, children experience as they approach new challenges. Accompanied by strikingly beautiful illustrations, this tale guides readers through Ramone’s emotional journey, showing kids that fear must be overcome in order to grow.”

Review

I love any picture book that rhymes and Hillary does an amazing job of keeping a steady rhyme and rhythm that makes reading Soar so fun. The rhyme also helps to share Ramone’s worry and fear in a way that kids will find comfortable and see the parallel in their own lives.

I really loved Ramone’s mama in this adorable story as she didn’t push Ramone to fly, just helped to support him in any way he needed to build up the courage to fly. This story would pair so well with Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwell – both share support of family and the courage to try something new!

And I can’t finish my review without mentioning the beautiful, bright colored illustrations of these fast little birds! With gorgeous feathers in a rainbow of hues and the bright green leaves of the trees, it feels like you’re in the midst of all the hummingbirds.

Additional Thoughts

The publisher has the cutest book trailer, that you definitely need to check out! And I love when books providing extension, this one in the form of a few simple discussion questions AND some hummingbird facts. Plus there is additional bibliographic information for kids wanting to learn more about hummingbirds!

Need to Know:

Title: Soar
Author: Hillary Daecher
Illustrator: Angie Hohenadel
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Publication Date: August 28, 2020
Page Number: 32 pgs.