AMELIA'S LOOSE PART ART

In Odusanya’s picture book, two cousins learn a valuable lesson about creativity.

A tan-skinned child named Amelia appears disorganized—her messy bedroom is a riot of loose crayons, fabrics, and yarn. But Amelia is an artist with unstoppable drive, using “every LOOSE PART imaginable” in her work. While Amelia struggles to clean her room, her Auntie Teya and her cousin Jayce arrive, ready for their camping trip. The thrill of the outing is blunted when they discover that the campsite’s now missing its playground. While looking out at the empty site, Amelia notices that the park is packed with “giant loose parts” everywhere, from scattered leaves to logs. The cousins set out to design their own “teeter-totter,” but they don’t stop there—they can re-create the entire playground, complete with a slide and a new swing, making everything by hand. There’s a touching moment of discovery when the cousins realize that “The WORLD is our playground, we just have to CREATE it.” Later, Amelia, with the help of her parents, finally organizes her bedroom’s array of “loose parts” by creating “a HOME for every piece.” The engaging text includes a section with advice for aiding a child’s development by incorporating everyday items into playtime. Youngsters will be enthralled by Medonza’s stunning digital illustrations—especially the images of stars—which create moments packed with childish wonder and energy.

A charming story that encourages children to use their imaginations.