Ava's Spectacular Spectacles by Alice Rex (Hardcover) NEW!

Engaging and empowering, paired with whimsical illustrations; perfect springboard for a "what if" writing activity.Ava doesn't like wearing her glasses in class, or in front of her friends. That is, until her teacher 'with a little help from some familiar characters 'convinces her that her favorite fairy tales would have been very different if they had just been wearing their glasses.

Ava doesn’t like wearing her glasses in class or in front of her friends. That is, until her teacher – with a little help from some familiar fairy tale characters – convinces her that everyone’s story would be better if they just wear their glasses. 

Beautiful and helpful!

This book would be wonderful for any child who recently got glasses and is hesitant to wear them. The story talks about how the main characters in famous fairy tales would have been better off if they’d been wearing their glasses. It’s very well done, I highly recommend. It’s also great to see any picture book that highlights and celebrates the differences people have.

Date: 1/20/2018 2:24 PM 

School Library Journal

Ava’s teacher reminds her to wear her glasses by giving the child examples of how spectacles can save the day. Little Red Riding Hood might have been able to recognize the wolf and Hansel and Gretel may have been able to find their way home. Other examples include Humpty Dumpty and the king’s men, Little Bo-Peep, and Little Miss Muffet. Ava is convinced to pull her glasses out of her bookbag and suddenly the words on the board make sense. There is not much of a plot here, but Perrini’s cartoon artwork is appealing, utilizing pale pastel shades of lemon green and mauve with charcoal pencil sketches. Perrini employs various perspectives, some of which are more successful than others. VERDICT A lighthearted and humorous use of story within a story to create a positive lesson on seeing clearly. A fun addition.