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CM . . .
. Volume XVIII Number 8. . . .October 21, 2011
excerpt:
It�s time to go to school. But with �eleven cars to wash, the highest tower ever to build and a snake drawing that [isn�t] done yet�, the last place Ferdie wants to go is school. Viola meets her younger brother�s unwillingness with the appearance of a superfast cape. Ferdie, unable to resist, puts on the cape and thus begins Viola and Ferdie�s adventurous journey to school.
In A Few Blocks, Young transforms an ordinary event into an epic adventure. She gives Viola not only the responsibility of a big sister but also the imagination of a child. When Ferdie won�t budge, it�s Viola�s imagination that brings him to his feet. Young brilliantly maintains the reader�s interest with the introduction of an unexpected twist. Above all else, she proclaims that every circumstance can be enriched with a little imagination. Recommended. Toronto�s Inderjit Deogun is currently pursuing a career in publishing with a particular interest in children�s literature.
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Cyb�le Young�s illustrative snapshots beautifully juxtapose Ferdie�s reluctance with Viola�s maturity. Young�s use of colour cleverly signals the beginning of each mini adventure and Viola�s rich imagination. Young�s incorporation of collage and 3-D art gives visual depth to the children�s fantasy, setting it apart from the real world.