That’s Not Normal! (9788418133237)/Eso No Es Normal! (9788417673734), by Mar Pavón, illustrated by Laure Du Fäy, nubeOcho, 2021
Format: Hardcover Picture book
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or starred review) 5
Genre: Inspirational
What did you like about the book? Elephant puts his unusually long trunk to use for his friends who accept him as he is. Except for Hippopotamus who teases him and even trips him. But in the end Elephant put his trunk to good use rescuing little Hippo. The unique illustrations are fun, my kids loved when I said the Zebra was naked (as Elephant used his trunk like a clothesline to dry Zebra’s stripes). We all learned a few Spanish words reading the Spanish version after the English version. Both my kids were saying “Eso no es normal!” in the right spots before we finished!
Anything you did not like about the book? I didn’t love the illustrations at first, but they grew on me by the end.
To whom would you recommend this book? Anyone looking to inspire a kid who feels a little different or left out to accept themselves as they are.
Who should buy this book? parents, teachers, librarians
Where would you shelve it? Picture books
Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes!
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Vicky Tandy, Athol Public Library, Athol, MA
Date of review: 7/7/21
Youth Services Book Review 
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