Velvet is odd. Instead of dolls that talk and cry, Velvet brings a milkweed pod for show and tell. She wins the class art contest using only an eight-pack of crayons. She likes to collect rocks. Even her name is strange -- Velvet! But as the school year unfolds, the things Velvet does and the things that Velvet says slowly begin to make sense. And, in the end, Velvet's classmates discover that being different is what makes Velvet so much fun.
"From the first day of school, Velvet's classmates think that she is strange. When the other girls bring their dolls for show-and-tell, she brings a milkweed pod. With her purple dress, huge glasses, and peppermint-stick tights, this girl is clearly too odd to be picked as a play partner-or a friend. But slowly, her unique characteristics -- her rock collection, her ability to draw lovely pictures with only the eight basic crayons -- seem more interesting than strange, and a wonderful birthday party at her house cements the other children's acceptance of this imaginative child....Both the artwork and the writing save the story from becoming too saccharine. A promising debut for both author and illustrator, and a commendable addition to libraries." -- Tana Elias, School Library Journal
Recommended Age | 3 - 8 |
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Author | Mary Whitcomb |
Illustrator | Tara Calahan King |
ISBN | 0811820041 |
Publication Date | Aug 1, 1998 |
Publisher | Chronicle Books |
Language | English |