All children have innate talents, but when the New Girl comes to school, her ability on the violin is so phenomenal that Almond can see the bees flying high and low from flower to flower when she plays "Flight of the Bumblebee." Is she a genius? Discouraged, Almond thinks her only talent is her beautiful hair, which caused the teacher to ask her to be Rapunzel in the school play. But Almond turns out to be a natural actress, and the audience claps and claps. Almond discovers that her ability to pretend and use her imagination can make her soar. She has the power to be anything she wants! Throughout, Almond's expressive body and face are charged with feeling; she is by turns downcast, pensive, hopeful, or ecstatic. The talented Caldecott Medal winner's illustrations in charcoal, pastel, and photography employ both backgrounds and close-ups of the New Girl and Almond, two appealing Asian American girls. An inspirational jumping-off point for all children who seek to discover their own special abilities and gifts.

Sometimes it takes meeting someone new to help us learn what we can really achieve.Almond, a young pale-skinned girl with dark hair, encounters another, similarly complexioned young girl at school. The New Girl can play violin beautifully, evoking visions for Almond as she listens. Almond, though, is facing anxiety about being in a play and having to read lines; she is convinced that she has no talent. Her insecurities lead her to feel inferior to the New Girl and thus diminish her own abilities, though Almond's mother assures her that she will find her way. It takes an encouraging teacher, a unique moment during the play, some crows, and, perhaps, a bit of the supernatural for Almond to discover her true talent. The story's themes—self-confidence, believing in oneself—are universal and should resonate with young readers, yet the characters feel overly specific. The New Girl's sudden appearance in and then disappearance from Almond's life opens up multiple interpretations that young readers may find hard to pin down. The narrative seems to jump in places, lacking smooth transitions to carry young readers through Almond's inner, and outer, journey. Say's unusual approach here mixes realistic photographs with often blurry charcoal and pastel techniques, leading to slightly unsettling translucency in places, with repetitive vignettes of Almond's not-always-expressive face and enigmatic views of windows and hallways.A slight story coupled with puzzling illustrations, this doesn't quite hit the mark. (Picture book. 4-7)

A new child at Almond-s school has dazzling talent: -The New Girl could play -Flight of the Bumblebee- so fast that Almond couldn-t see the bee.- Caldecott Medalist Say draws the New Girl-s bow dashing across the strings in a speedy blur. It-s hard for Almond not to compare herself to the New Girl (-All they say about me is that I have beautiful hair,- she says). Cast as Rapunzel in the school play, Almond fears a lack of talent almost as much as she appreciates New Girl-s. In a story that plumbs the depths of self-doubt and self-discovery, Say-s remarkable charcoal and pastel portraits, sometimes shown atop photographs, capture all the stages of Almond-s journey, from despondence (-I am not an actress,- she decides, stalking the school halls after the play) to a gentle revelation offered by the New Girl. An introspective reverie the next day shows Almond that she can enter another being-s existence in a way that-s more than just -pretending.- She is an actress, she declares to her mother, who rejoices with her. Say shows children a path toward deciding their own worth for themselves, apart from adult expectations. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)