Happy Book Birthday, Hurry Up! by Kate Dopirak

HURRY UP!

A Book About Slowing Down

by Kate Dopirak 

Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

A busy boy and his dog learn to slow down and enjoy life together in this lyrical, rhyming picture book perfect for hurried families everywhere.

For one busy boy, life is all hurry up, hurry down, hurry round and round and round! That is until he takes a big breath...and a big break...and slows down to see all the wonderful things in the world around him.

From celebrated picture book creators Kate Dopirak and Christopher Silas Neal, this playful yet powerful picture book reminds us to be present, to be mindful, and to appreciate each moment. 

        

MY TIDBITS

Life's super speed takes a well, needed break in this very relatable tale.

Get up, run to the bus, hurry to class... The day goes on and on, faster and faster as this child does its best to make it through the day. But after the work is done, life flips and maybe, doesn't have to be as fast as thought.

Almost every child will relate to this book. From the minute morning starts, the day hurries by as the school routine takes over. The constant hectic to do everything, which is expected is brought across very clearly. The kid in these pages rushes to and fro in the exact same way most listeners do themselves. When everything switches gear and slows down, listeners will again identify with the fun play and relaxation bring. The difference between fast and slow is obvious, and the message behind it too.

The illustrations bring across the hectic motion, set familiar scenes and add a tiny, dash of light-heartedness, too. But there's also the sense of empathy. It's a sweet picture book, which encourages listeners to take a break every now and then because these are just as important as the constant hurrying about.


And here they are...

The Author...
Kate Dopirak (1975–2018) loved walking her puppy, watching her sons play basketball, and convincing her husband to share a cheese plate instead of wings. She also loved to write for kids. Kate was a teacher, a reading specialist, and the Assistant Regional Advisor for Western Pennsylvania SCBWI. Her books include You’re My Boo; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car; and Hurry Up. Visit her at KateDopirak.com.

The Illustrator...

Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author who regularly contributes to The New York Times, The New Yorker, and creates book covers for various publishers. He has directed short animated videos for Kate Spade and Anthropologie and was awarded a medal from the Society of Illustrators for his work in motion graphics. He illustrated the acclaimed picture books Over and Under the Snow and Lifetime, both of which explore the natural world. Over and Under the Snow, with author Kate Messner, was praised for its “stunning retro-style illustrations” (The New York Times), was a 2011 New York Times Editor’s Choice and won an E.B. White Honor Award in 2012. He recently contributed art to the New York Times bestseller Goodnight Songs, which is a collection of poems by author of Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown.

Review: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Car by Kate Dopirak

TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE CAR

by Kate Dopirak

Illustrated by Mary Peterson

Picture Book

ages 4 to 8

A little red car beeps good night to all of his four-wheeled friends in this fresh take on the classic song, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

Twinkle, twinkle, little car,
how you love to travel far.
Now it’s time to go to bed.
But you want to drive instead.

It’s time for Little Car to go to sleep, but he isn’t tired yet! So he cruises around town saying goodnight to all of his friends, from the tractors in their shed to the buses and taxis in town to the cranes and diggers at the construction site. Finally exhausted, Little Car putt-putts home where at last his beep-beep dreams begin.

 MY TIDBITS

Taking an original twist on the well-known song, this book follows an energetic car who isn't quite ready for bed.

It's time for bed, but Little Car isn't ready to call it a night. He zooms through town, visiting everything from planes to tractors to firetrucks as he burns off energy so he can slow down to a good night's sleep.

Young car fans will enjoy this book. Little Car is cute and just right for the younger crowd as he brums off onto the road. His encounters with trucks, tractors, airplanes and more are just the kind of thing little motor vehicle fans love to see. By placing the rhyme into a well-known children's song, the entire book gains a very familiar feel children will find reassuring and fun. However, singing it might grow a bit redundant.

The illustrations are bright and simple, great for the younger listeners to peer at and enjoy. The text is also very fitting, and the rhythm flows nicely the entire way through. Some of the ideas in the rhymes came across a bit long-grabbed, but this isn't something younger listeners will notice.

Summed up, this is a wonderful read for all those who dream of cars and other vehicles, but I would recommend it for a slightly younger audience, ages 2 to 4.



And here they are. . .

The Author. . .
Kate Dopirak loves walking her puppy, watching her sons play basketball, and convincing her husband to share a cheese plate instead of wings. She also loves to write for kids. Kate is a teacher, a reading specialist, and the Assistant Regional Advisor for Western Pennsylvania SCBWI. She is the author of You're My Boo and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car. Visit her at KateDopirak.com.

The Illustrator. . .

Mary Peterson was born and rasied in Iowa on a small family farm surrounded by cornfields and lots of animals. Those early years in the company of critters large and small continue to provide inspiration for her art. She is the illustrator of many books ofr children and lives in Los Angeles, California.