Wibble Wobble BOOM!

by Mary Ann Rodman, Holly Sterling (Illustrator)

Overview

Today’s my first ice skating class. I’ll fly through the air, land on one foot, and spin so fast you can’t see me!

Claire can’t wait to get out on the ice and skate, skate, skate! She’s going to jump, leap, and twirl! Just you wait—pretty soon she’ll be on TV and dazzling audiences everywhere. But when Claire and her mom arrive at the Ice Center for Claire’s very first skate lesson, it’s not everything Claire was dreaming it would be. Beginners wear ugly brown skates, and who wants to practice marching in place when you can get right to it? But not so fast, Claire! One overeager foot on the ice, and…


Wibble.
Wobble—
BOOM!


In this humorous tale of expectation meets reality, Claire discovers beautiful performances require lots of skill, and it’s going to take many small failures and perseverance if she wants to skate like a pro.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682632208
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	11/29/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,096,659
Product dimensions:	10.73(w) x 9.66(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mary Ann Rodman holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A former school media specialist, she is also the author of A Tree for Emmy and First Grade Stinks! She has received both the Ezra Jack Keats Award for Outstanding New Picture Book Writer and the Charlotte Zolotow Award.


Holly Sterling is a freelance children’s illustrator and designer. She has earned a First Class Honors Degree in illustration and design from the University of Sunderland and received an MFA with Distinction from Edinburgh College of Art. She teaches as an illustration lecturer at the University of Sunderland. Follow her on Instagram @hollysterling87.

Editorial Reviews

★ "It is hard not to be charmed by this simple tale of a novice ice-skater's first lesson. . . . The illustrations are just as charming as the text. Sterling captures both Claire's emotions and the movement of the skaters in her cheerful artwork. . . . perfect for nervous newbies at just about anything."—Booklist, Starred Review
 
"Realistically portrays the ups and downs of learning a new skill with satisfying success."—Kirkus Reviews

"Any kid who has expected to be an expert at something right away only to find out it’s hard work can likely relate to Claire’s struggle. . . ."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

2022-09-14
A young Black girl eager to attend her first ice-skating lesson imagines how she will “Jump. Leap. Twirl.”

At the skating rink, Claire’s enthusiasm becomes disappointment when her introduction to the sport is different than her expectations. She hates the ugly brown rental skates, wanting pretty white ones of her own. She does not appreciate being placed among the Snowplows (the beginners group); she’d rather be called a skater. And she doesn’t see the point of the initial exercises off the ice. “This isn’t skating. I want to skate!” Finally on the ice, skating is harder than anticipated and…“Wibble, Wobble…BOOM!” Claire falls on her bottom. But the light-skinned coach, Miss Nicole, tells everyone that Claire did a good job falling the right way. Getting up correctly is also a technique, but as the lesson progresses, Claire is still discouraged: “Skating is hard, not fun!” Then she takes notice of how Miss Nicole moves her feet: “Push, glide, slide.” One more try, a few wobbles, and Claire understands and skates toward the railing. Her hard work has paid off, and she feels proud to be a Snowplow. The delicate pencil, acrylic, and digital illustrations reflect a diverse group of children lending support and encouragement to an impatient yet determined newcomer; little ones facing their own challenges will be buoyed. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Realistically portrays the ups and downs of learning a new skill with satisfying success. (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews