Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Ballyhoo Bay



Sierra, Judy. Ballyhoo Bay. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: 2009. ISBN: 9781416958888.

July Sierra has created a whimsical, animated tale, Ballyhoo Bay, which takes place at a perfect summer destination, the beach! In this engaging adventure, an energetic Mira Bella teaches babies, grandmas, otters and pelicans a variety of art mediums while working in the midst of the sand and surf. Young and old alike will enjoy the predictable rhythm and rhyme this text has to offer, along with humorous hyperboles, and kid-friendly storyline. Readers will capture the characters’ emotions through both expressive dialogue and exaggerated facial expressions. But the gleeful adventure soon comes to a halt as ominous, gray clouds begin to roll in, mirroring feelings of gloom and defeat. Developers have decided to turn peaceful Ballyhoo Bay into an exclusive vacation resort. Mira Bella rallies her forces with banners and signs, marching them straight to Ballyhoo Hall. The group is determined to convince the town council to change their despicable plans. The plot continues to seamlessly unfold with the use of vibrant, acrylic illustrations. The characters convincingly present their own “Plan B”, simply leave the beach the way it is.

Terry Meyer, Bowling Green State University, EDTL 6950

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