LIZZY HAS FANTASTIC FEET

Simmonds addresses childhood angst in a picture book about a young boy and a big-footed lizard.

Caius wants to play, but his two older brothers are finishing their chores. In his treehouse, the boy is sad, but then he hears a sob that isn’t his own. Soon, he and his brothers discover a talking purple lizard: “I’m so lonely,” the lizard explains. “No one wants to play with me.” The fact that the lizard has big feet makes her sad. A brown rabbit wearing a hat and bow tie pops out of its burrow and shares a story of the lizard’s grandfather, who also had big feet: “He held those feet up like an umbrella” to keep “ants and baby lizards from the great storm.” The lizard becomes proud of her own feet but begins to worry that a storm might not come to show them off. The brothers wonder if Lizzy, as she becomes known, has other talents; sure enough, she has a “powerful kick” when playing soccer. The family camps out with Caius’ new friend as Caius finds his own sense of confidence. Simmonds imaginatively combines the stories of a talking lizard and a shy child to give voice to an issue that kids will find relatable. Lizzy draws young readers into the story, offering a lesson in which finding one’s “inner strength” succeeds. Dale’s painterly illustrations are vivid, and they complement the text nicely; Caius and his family are portrayed as Black, and next-door neighbor Luis is shown with brown skin. Caius’ sadness is clearly visible on his face, as is his joy as the story goes on.

A charming and creative lesson about building self-esteem.