Keller’s tale of Pearl’s struggles to master the slippery sport of ice skating has at its core a powerful message about perseverance. When Pearl receives a pair of big-girl, single-runner ice skates for her birthday, she’s immediately transported by fantasies of effortlessly skimming the ice. When Pearl returns to reality with a thump—on her bottom at the skating pond—she is disenchanted, ready to walk away from the ice forever. With some gentle instructions from her uncle, Pearl learns that while practice might not make perfect, it certainly helps you get up and going on your new skates. Keller is on target with Pearl’s frustration when her fantasy fails to match her reality, and young readers, who daily face their own set of new skills to master, will take heart with Pearl’s ultimate accomplishment. Keller’s bright watercolor illustrations comically capture Pearl’s moods and mortification. She artfully expresses Pearl’s total disdain, from the defiant tilt of a chin to the empathically splayed hands. Keller’s tale is a wonderful antidote to discouragement and is bound to bolster any new athlete’s faltering self-esteem. (Picture book. 4-8)
