T. E. Chamie, Oranges at Halftime, Thou Art Publishing, 1 Dec 2015, 32 pp., $16.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9780646945484
This is a story of inclusion, friendship and decision making . Two friends join a soccer club and when one decides to leave his mates to help the A team win the cup, the other opts to stay in the lower grade with his friends. Told in rhyming couplets, the language is simple and immediate. Illustrations are a little harder to warm to as, although pages are busy and depict the bustle and camaraderie of the games and training, the characters are presented with rather challenging facial expressions and uneasy body dimensions.
A great message let down by uneven pictorial message.
Reviewed by Chris Dayman
3 Comments
Interesting review – I agree this book has a great message about friendship and decision making. The illustrations matched the words well and the facial experiences of the characters helped depict their emotions. That’s what makes it quite unique.
Reading this book was a joy. A really important and powerful message which will resonate with both adults and children. Perfect book for parents who avoid “baby talk” and instead communicate with their children authentically and treat them like real people. A thought provoking message reinforced by masterful watercolour artworks.
The review prompted me to read the book again. Noticed that you have incorrectly described the plot. Eric is promoted to the A Team but decides to return to the B Team to be with his friend Benny.