Smoot

A Rebellious Shadow

Illustrated by Sydney  Smith
A brave shadow finds a more colorful life in this joyous picture book by the acclaimed author of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles and illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers.
 
Smoot the shadow has been living a yawn-filled life for years. His boy never laughs and never leaps, so Smoot never does either . . . until the day he pops free, and decides to hit the road in search of the life he dreams about. And as he enjoys his first colorful day—singing, dancing, and playing—other shadows watch him, and they become brave, too. The frog's shadow takes the shape of a prince, the dragonfly's shadow that of a dragon. Even the rock's shadow gets in on the excitement. But what will become of the timid beings their shadows have left behind? Will they finally be inspired to find their own daring?
Michelle Cuevas graduated from Williams College and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Virginia. She is the author of several children’s books, including Confessions of an Imaginary Friend and The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles . She lives in Berkshire County in Massachusetts. View titles by Michelle Cuevas
Praise for Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow

* "Cuevas' plotline radiates freshness and celebrates the rewards of risk-taking. . . .  Not since Peter Pan's has a shadow commanded such well-deserved attention." —Kirkus, starred review

* "Just like Smoot and the boy, the text and illustrations of this book fit together seamlessly. . . . Smith's inky shadows and bright watercolor washes are imbued with lively movement, which perfectly capture Smoot's boundless energy. Inspiring without being at all sappy, Smoot's rebellion produces rich results." —Booklist, starred review

"A delightful read-aloud." —School Library Journal

"A modern fairy tale (of sorts) that . . . visually shines."  —Horn Book

About

A brave shadow finds a more colorful life in this joyous picture book by the acclaimed author of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles and illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers.
 
Smoot the shadow has been living a yawn-filled life for years. His boy never laughs and never leaps, so Smoot never does either . . . until the day he pops free, and decides to hit the road in search of the life he dreams about. And as he enjoys his first colorful day—singing, dancing, and playing—other shadows watch him, and they become brave, too. The frog's shadow takes the shape of a prince, the dragonfly's shadow that of a dragon. Even the rock's shadow gets in on the excitement. But what will become of the timid beings their shadows have left behind? Will they finally be inspired to find their own daring?

Author

Michelle Cuevas graduated from Williams College and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Virginia. She is the author of several children’s books, including Confessions of an Imaginary Friend and The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles . She lives in Berkshire County in Massachusetts. View titles by Michelle Cuevas

Praise

Praise for Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow

* "Cuevas' plotline radiates freshness and celebrates the rewards of risk-taking. . . .  Not since Peter Pan's has a shadow commanded such well-deserved attention." —Kirkus, starred review

* "Just like Smoot and the boy, the text and illustrations of this book fit together seamlessly. . . . Smith's inky shadows and bright watercolor washes are imbued with lively movement, which perfectly capture Smoot's boundless energy. Inspiring without being at all sappy, Smoot's rebellion produces rich results." —Booklist, starred review

"A delightful read-aloud." —School Library Journal

"A modern fairy tale (of sorts) that . . . visually shines."  —Horn Book

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more