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“[A] parade of beauty that will give children of all backgrounds and interests confidence in their own uniqueness."
—The Irish Times
“A celebration of creativity and emotional intelligence featuring a
diverse cast of kids. A reassuring read for primary-aged children who
feel like a round peg in a square, academic hole."
—The Guardian
”For any child who has ever worried about being “smart”, Australian
author Bell and artist Colpoys offer an expansive, reassuring look at
the many ways there are to be that way … Colpoys’ illustrations, showing
a busy, multiracial, multi-gifted cast, convey joyous variety and
abundant compassion.”
—Toronto Star
“Simple, flowing words coupled with fluorescent illustrations
(created from ink, charcoal, and pencil, then digitally assembled) give
young readers a book brimming with examples of how they are smart all
day, every day … Realistic illustrations show children of varying racial
presentations joining sentient animals and benign, hairy monsters to
confidently explore their world, real and imagined."
—Kirkus Reviews
“In this cheerful exploration of all the nonstandard ways a person
can be smart, the creators paint an expansive picture of intelligence
that goes well beyond “being best/at spelling bees,/a tricky test.” …
Colpoys’s ink, charcoal, and pencil drawings burst with a profusion of
neon orange and green, literally highlighting each scene with an
incandescence that more than matches the rhyming couplets’ jauntiness. A
feel-good paean to individuality."
—Publishers Weekly
“All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell explores multiple
intelligences in a way that small children can understand and
appreciate. Every child is smart in his or her own way. Some of the ways
highlighted in a pleasing rhyme include creativity, physical
activities, music, emotional sensitivity, memorizing information, math,
and traditional academic knowledge … This is a charming book to help
children understand that everyone has special skills and talents."
—Catholic Library Journal
“Brilliant.”
—Mariela Summerhays, Buzzfeed
“What does it mean to be smart? This beautiful book inventories all
the unique, not-so-academic ways a person might be smart throughout
their day; from being good at taking risks, to being kind, or knowing
how to sit quietly and observe. A welcome message that is a delight to
share with students with it's gentle and warm rhyming text. The
illustrations depict a wide array of diverse people and creatures in
colorful scenes that take up the whole page. A gorgeous addition to
school and public libraries, and a lovely gift for any child.”
—Southeast Pennsylvania School Library Book Reviewers
“This book celebrates the myriad ways one can be smart—knowing the
right thing to say, being welcoming to a shy friend, using your
imagination, taking chances. A needed reassurance that tests can’t
measure everything, and that we need all kinds of kids to create a smart
and inventive world. This book is comforting, inspiring, and fun!”
—Bethany Strout, Staff Pick, Tattered Cover
“An important reminder for readers of all ages that there are so many
wonderful ways to be smart. Vibrant colours and charming whimsical
illustrations fill the pages with character, and the rhythmic, rhyming
text makes it a delight to read out loud. A necessary and joyful
celebration of all the different things that we can do, from “reading,
writing, spelling” to “caring, sharing, scaring” to my personal
favourite “drawing very pointy stars”.”
—Sarah R., Staff Pick, Powell’s
“This should be required reading—in families, at workplaces, in
schools. I love this beautiful, confidence-building book. I think
everyone will find something here to make them feel better about
themselves (and appreciate those around them).”
—Tegan Tigani, Bookseller Review, Queen Anne Book Company
“[G]orgeous, accessible, simple, true and brilliant. Everything I want in a picture book.”
—Jessica Peterson White, Bookseller Review, Content Book Store
“I remember feeling so frustrated as a child because I wanted there
to be more than one meaning of “smart”. This book validates how everyone
is smart in their own unique way. I want to share this book with every
child (and adult!)”
—Lafe Cantrall, Bookseller Review, Oblong Books & Music
“Smart is as unique as each of us and there are infinite ways to be
smart. What if we all grew up with this message, imagine the doors it
would open and the opportunities it would provide. One of the most
pivotal messages that children need to hear and illustrated with a
brilliant spectrum of colours that leap from the page and right into the
heart.”
—Jesica Sweedler DeHart, Librarian Review, Neill Public Library |