Trini's Big Leap

by Beth Kephart, Alexander de Wit, William Sulit (Illustrator)

Overview

Trini is the highest flyer, the strongest gripper, the most spectacular cartwheeler at her after-school club.

She easily masters any gymnastic move her teachers show her, and always says, “I can do that.” But when she tries to construct buildings out of blocks like her friends do, she discovers that some things don’t come as easily for her. Through the encouragement of her friends, Trini learns the value of collaboration and trying new things, even when they aren’t so easy. An afterword by the founder and CEO of The Little Gym Europe, outlines why it’s important to encourage children to try new and difficult things.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780999658451
Publisher:	Penny Candy Books
Publication date:	08/13/2019
Pages:	44
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Beth Kephart is the award-winning author of two dozen books, a teacher of writing at the University of Pennsylvania, and a co-founder of Juncture Workshops. Her essays, reviews, and interviews appear in publications ranging from the New York Times and Washington Post to LitHub, LARB, Catapult, Salon, Brevity, and The Millions. She lives outside of Philadelphia.

Alexander de Wit is an entrepreneur, investor and advisor. A Dutch national, he lives in Belgium and works out of Brussels, London, New York, and Singapore. Alexander has founded many successful companies, including The Little Gym Europe, a market leader in child development programs with franchises in Europe and the Middle East. His passion, and the common denominator to his many pursuits and activities, is to help people develop their potential. Married and the father of three children, Alexander enjoys discovering the world as a family, practicing alpine and water skiing, and acrobatic trapeze. I Can Do That! is his first picture book. de Wit lives in Belgium.

William Sulit is an award-winning illustrator, ceramicist, and designer. Born in El Salvador, he studied design at North Carolina State University and received his Masters of Architecture degree from Yale University. After working as an architect, a graphic designer, and a photographer, he has turned his attention to ceramics and illustration as his primary means of artistic expression. He is the co-founder of Juncture Workshops and he collaborates with his wife, Beth, in life, business, and art. He lives outside of Philadelphia.

Editorial Reviews

"Solid text depicts Trini as relatable and confident but never smug. The spare illustrations clearly show a child’s enthusiasm and gymnastic skill in addition to her dismay at her inability to excel for the first time. An afterword for parents discusses the importance of exposing children to challenging experiences." —School Library Journal

“…encourages children to challenge themselves and others by exploring a variety of activities and experiences, having fun while forming healthy foundations for future success." —Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher

07/26/2019

PreS-Gr 1-Trini is a young girl who is full of confidence. Every day at Bounce and Build, she says, "I can do that!" And she can, without any help at all. Gymnastics is her superpower. Then one day she follows her friends into the Build area and discovers to her surprise that she's not terrific at building a castle out of blocks. Luckily, her friends have the solution—"We can do it together." As a team, they make an amazing castle. Trini is still a natural gymnast, but now she says, "You can do that!" as she helps her friends be great too. Together they say, "We can do that" as they build a tall tower. Solid text depicts Trini as relatable and confident but never smug. The spare illustrations clearly show a child's enthusiasm and gymnastic skill in addition to her dismay at her inability to excel for the first time. An afterword for parents discusses the importance of exposing children to challenging experiences. VERDICT Trini learns that not all skills come naturally, and that teamwork makes all the difference. A solid addition to most collections.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

School Library Journal

2019-06-25
Trini can do everything, or so she thinks, until she discovers she can't.

In her flowery green dress, yellow boots, and red superhero cape, Trini can do anything. "She was the highest flyer, the strongest gripper, the most spectacular cartwheeler at Bounce and Build." But one day she finds her friends are not around her as she "leaps and twirls and swirls and curls"; they are instead playing with blocks. When she tries to build "a castle with a tower," Trini finally finds something she cannot do. After initial frustration she accepts help from her friends, and together they have a wonderful time building a castle. The next day Trini is back and ready to help her friends perform all the gymnastics that she is so good at, "And in their own ways, with Trini's help, they did." Trini is depicted with black hair and olive skin; of her friends, two are white and two are darker-skinned, one possibly black. In a lengthy afterword directed at parents, co-author de Wit explains the importance of exposing children to a variety of experiences both challenging and easy in order to promote their development, teach them to overcome obstacles, and maybe awaken a life calling.

Partly a parenting book, partly aimed at children, best read and discussed together. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews