Lucy Tries Luge

August 1, 2015
Sports reporter Bowes answers a question frequently voiced at the Olympic Games: where do lugers come from? The simple answer is that lugers are grown-up kids who like to lie on their backs and skid on ice at about 100 miles per hour-not necessarily a universal predilection. Series protagonist Lucy pipes a small reservation-"will the sled go too fast?... /...she's afraid she might crash!"-but her parents give her the needed encouragement: "Don't worry!" It's not exactly clear here whom Lucy is doing this for: herself, her parents, her dog? She rips down the run and makes it to the end, where her parents tell her, "You make us so proud!" As a boot in the pants to get kids outside, this may be overmuch, akin to suggesting a couch potato take up ski jumping or rock climbing. But luging is just another form of an ancient sport-you sit on something that slides on ice or snow, and go-so there is room to maneuver: perhaps readers might like to start with a nice piece of cardboard. Hearne's artwork conveys the speed in a hyperglossy fashion that tends, oddly, to mute the colors but is still plenty cheery. As a stimulant to get the young away from screens of all types, the best first step may not be behind the wheel of a stock car on runners. (Picture book. 4-8)

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September 1, 2015
Preschool-G Blammo! With her bright red hair swept into a ponytail, and a blue lightning bolt across her chest, Lucy is ready to hit the ice. Or is she? Though excited about her new luge sled, Lucy is a bit nervous about the high-speed course's twists and turns. An encouraging word from her parents, red helmet for safety, and sweet racing suit give her the confidence she needsand 3, 2, 1, she is off! Vivid, digitally colored illustrations offer close-ups of Lucy as she swishes, swooshes, and zooms down the track and across the finish line on her sled. A large font with select words in color will help young readers follow the text and build vocabulary, and the Fast Facts on the final page offer information on the luge's history and top speed and how to steer the sled. This invigorating story celebrates courage and the thrill that comes with participating in an exciting winter sport. It is the first book in the new Lucy Tries Sports series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)