Review sponsored* by Notable Kids Publishing
The Children’s Book Review | June 29, 2016
Written by Brenda Faatz and Peter Trimarco
Illustrated by Peter Trimarco
Age Range: 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Notable Kids Publishing (2016)
ISBN: 978-0997085105
What to expect: Rhyme, New School Scenario, Word Play, Emotions
From waking up in the morning and then all the way through bath time and bedtime, readers experience Lizzy’s emotional first day at a new school.
Beginning anything new can be both exciting and nerve-racking. On this particular morning, Lizzy wakes up with a rollercoaster of emotions about her first day at a new school—mostly, she is afraid of the unknown and she wonders if she will make any friends. Using the words “It’s just so …,” each part of her day ends with a descriptive word. Beginning with “It’s just so … early/noisy/scary/big/me only,” and then transitioning into “It’s just so … mathemagical/fizz-astro-fantastical/colorific/epic.”
The combination of the colorful illustrations and the zippy rhymes gives Lizzy an adventurous flair:
“Plum-purple, berry-blue splashed everywhere.
She imagined in colors with bold Lizzy-flair.
Great care Lizzy took to paint outside the lines.
As a fierce crayon-artist she started to shine.”
The book is well-designed and has an eye-catching layout. The font size is large and easy to read and the fun typography zig zags and changes sizes to emphasize particular words and emotions. Kids will enjoy sounding out some of the zanier word plays and making up their own new words such as “oompa-pa-chugga-doo-zippidy-la.”
From the playful words and vocabulary expansion to the exploration of what a first day of school might bring, It’s Just So …, the first in a new picture book series, is a fun choice for elementary school aged children—particularly first and second graders that may be changing schools.
Add this book to your collection: It’s Just So …
Available Here:
About Brenda Faatz
Brenda Faatz has an undeniable connection with children. Some say it’s because they instinctively know “one of their own.” A graduate of The University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Musical Theatre, Brenda is a professional singer, dancer and actor. Along with her husband, Peter Trimarco, she wrote the music, lyrics and script for the original Wee Noteables musical theatre live performance series for children. Brenda also founded and directs the Notable Kids Arts Center in Denver, Colorado where she has the honor of interacting with and learning from children and their families on a daily basis. This is her first children’s book because, as she likes to say… “no one ever told me I couldn’t.”
About Peter Trimarco
Peter Trimarco was a fine arts student who graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in literature and went on to pursue a career as an editorial cartoonist and commercial artist. Before being inspired by the opportunity to co-write and illustrate a children’s book with Brenda, he journeyed through life as an entertainment industry professional. From art director to executive producer to co-founder and publisher of an international film magazine, he realized a good deal of success (awards and working with people who had entourages). But then came working with children, inspiring a new and worthy passion. The words began to flow and with it, the paint, the ink and, most important, the orange hair on Lizzy’s head.
…and three simple words from Brenda put it all in motion” “It’s Just So…”
More Information
www.notablekidspublishing.com | www.itsjustso.net
Facebook.com/notablekidspublishing | Facebook.com/itsjustsobooks
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The publisher of “It’s Just So …,” Notable Kids Publishing, sponsored* this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …