Becoming Blue

Blue is as blue does. Shy Blue, a square, idolizes outgoing, brave, accomplished Red, a sphere. Blue is a square in more ways than one, while Red's the color of a firetruck, fire itself, and, best of all, a stop sign. Fed up that Blue copies her, she demands that he "Go be Blue!" i.e., himself. Blue tries to find his essential blueness but can't. As events unfold, however, Blue discovers marvelous, hitherto unknown talents that only someone blue can possess. In the end, Red not only acknowledges and compliments Blue's specialness, but also adopts some qualities that make him unique. Better still, the pals discover that, when combining talents, something extraordinary happens. Being oneself is a great message to convey--as is joining forces with friends--and while this is a familiar, somewhat predictable tale, the author relays the idea mostly successfully, though the conclusion feels a little tacked-on. Capable, self-assured Red is occasionally haughty, though, admittedly, she relents by the end. Self-effacing Blue is presented as largely ineffectual and sometimes simpering. Though Blue's heightened sense of self-worth develops late, readers will welcome it and appreciate Red's respectful acknowledgment. The quirky digital illustrations are appealing; occasional colored typefaces and backgrounds enhance visual interest, as do the characters' expressive faces, achieved through dots for eyes and simple lines for mouths. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Cute and reassuring though lightweight. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.