Boing Boing by Alexander McCall Smith is a Picture Squirrels book, one of a special collection of books written to be dyslexia-friendly (visit their website to learn more). It’s colourfully illustrated by Zoe Persico, in a style that feels both retro and modern.
Jane, Boing Boing’s heroine, is different to other children and has a special talent first discovered when she was a toddler. Jane can bounce really well. She bounces everywhere, inside and outside, past people, over the high jump bar, and all the way up to the top shelf in the library.
Jane bounces so much, and so well, that her parents take her to the doctor to find out what’s going on. It’s there, after an x-ray, that they discover Jane has springs for knees. No wonder she can bounce!
Jane’s bouncing surprises people, but it’s also helpful in all kinds of situations and she soon earns a bouncy nickname, Springy Jane. Her propensity to use bouncing to help people leads to a problem during a flood and Jane loses her bounce, but she doesn’t let it worry her. Springy Jane keeps helping people and on her birthday receives a wonderful gift that enables her to bounce again.
A great story for new and developing readers, or to enjoy reading with family, Boing Boing reminds us that it’s okay to be different, and to embrace those differences.
Title: Boing Boing
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Illustrator: Zoe Persico
Publisher: Faber Factory Plus, $12.99 RRP
Publication Date: August 2016
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781781125144
For ages: 4 - 6
Type: Picture Book
