Review by Booklist Review
A bit of elementary instruction for young giraffes of the two- as well as four-legged variety who yearn to get to the slopes and go WAY TOO FAST! Here a human lad (olive-skinned in Gowdy's cartoon-style illustrations) chases after his hypergangly giraffe companion as he diverts her from the Big Scary Slope to the bunny hill, teaches her to angle her skis into a pizza to slow down, make parallel french fries to speed up, draw S's in the snow to turn, and apologize when she crashes into other novices. The Big Scary Slope keeps beckoning though, and at last it's time for not just the giraffe but both skiers to zoom off on an epic downhill rush. A well-earned rest back at the lodge, with pizza for one and a nip or two of pine branch for the other, serves as a lull . . . until the freestyle park beckons. Real newbies may want to take it slower, but this sparkling double debut offers a good mix of exhilaration and basic technique.--John Peters Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
A second-person narrative describes how "your" pet giraffe begs to ski. When the giraffe takes off for the "Big Scary Slope," you have no choice but to follow. Clever use of framed vignettes provides step-by-step instruction for snapping on bindings, untangling skis, and even tackling the chairlift. The illustrations' silly cartoony style underscores the implied message: trying new things can be a lot of fun. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What do you do when your giraffe wants to ski?As snow falls outside, the young protagonist sits uneasily inside a cozy chalet with a giraffe that has just decided to learn to ski. Though the child tries to convince the giraffe that making hot chocolate or snow giraffes would be preferable, the giraffe remains focused and heads straight for the slopes, our protagonist in hot pursuit with equipment in tow. Told in second person, this tongue-in-cheek, teach-your-giraffe-to-ski instruction manual offers a solid introduction to the basics of the sport, for humans tooski positions, slope etiquette, etc. When at last the giraffe bombs down the largest mountain, what else must a good friend do but go after her? The giraffe's fearlessness may resonate with some young enthusiasts eager to hit the slopes, while the child's trepidation about conquering the "Big Scary Slope" will be familiar to many first-time skiers. In true picture-book fashion, the delightful, bright, cartoon-style illustrations expand upon exuberant text that takes turns instructing and cautioning this bold, headstrong mammal and her slightly more cautious owner through attempts, falls, and reassuring hugs. It's never easy to learn something new; sometimes it helps to have a giraffe learn with you. The child has tan skin and straight, black hair.A wintry friendship story that cleverly conceals a how-to for conquering one's fears and getting back up after snowy falls. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
