Project Description

Thingity Jig
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Back to School Pick!

The Thingity-Jig

by Kathleen Doherty
illustrated by Kristyna Litten

A bear’s curious discovery leads to crafty inventions in this storytime romp filled with whimsical wordplay and themes of friendship, imagination, and STEAM.

★ “Doherty’s joyous, inventive, action-packed language begs to be shouted out loud….A delightful, rollicking, joyous romp.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

An inquisitive bear ventures into People Town, where he makes quite the curious discovery. What is this? A springy thing—a bouncy thing—a sit-on-it, jump-on-it thing! It’s a bit too cumbersome to bring back to the woods, however, so Bear runs home to tell his friends. But none of his friends are willing to help, so Bear invents a “Rolly-Rumpity” to wheel home the “Thingity-Jig.” Through trial and error—and lots of shooing away from sleepy friends—Bear finally wheels the “Thingity-Jig” home to the woods, where he graciously shares his find.

Reading specialist and former educator Kathy Doherty blends upcycling and STEAM with a delightful story and wordplay in this charismatic picture book that’s ideal for read alouds. Illustrator Kristyna Litten brings the charming world to life with detailed, imaginative art and characters.

Format: Hardcover
Price: $17.99
ISBN: 978-1-56145-959-9
Publication Date: 4/1/2021
Page Count: 32
Size: 9″ x 12″
Age Range: 4 – 8
Language: English
Format: eBook
ISBN: 978-1-68263-352-6
Age Range: 4 – 8
Language: English

Purchase this eBook through the following vendors:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
BookShout
eBooks.com
Google
IndieBound
Kobo
Scribd

F&P: M, Gr 2, Genre F
Lexile: AD500L
Themes: Ingenuity, Friendship, Patience, Imagination, Play
BISAC 1: JUV039060 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship
BISAC 2: JUV051000 JUVENILE FICTION / Imagination & Play
BISAC 3: JUV002030 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Bears

Reviews

“Doherty’s joyous, inventive, action-packed language begs to be shouted out loud. The moonlit night sparkles in town and city as Litten’s fanciful illustrations fill in the details of the tale and showcase Bear’s inventiveness. Little readers might want to create their own Thingity-Jigs. A delightful, rollicking, joyous romp.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“[An] intricately illustrated picture book that rejoices in creative play—and in imaginative takes on ordinary objects.” —Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Making the most of Bear’s wacky, ingenious contraptions, the appealing artwork rewards curious viewers with visual details that reappear in different contexts as the story unfolds. The well-constructed text rolls along in a satisfying way, enhanced by the devices’ inventive names, which are uniquely fitting and great fun to read aloud. A dynamic, enjoyable picture book.” —Booklist

“With text as energetic and playful as Bear himself, the story builds a delightful anticipation for each new Rube Goldberg-ian invention. Atmospheric illustrations are washed in softly textured nighttime blues and are chock-a-block full of endearing detail…. With language that trips off the tongue and pictures filled with charming ingenuity, this is a read-aloud that will endure.” —School Library Connection

“Illuminating nightscapes, enveloped in rich purple shadows that contrast beautifully with the shining yellow light from windows. As the sun rises, the scenes masterfully transition to the warm orange morning…. Doherty’s text is at its most playful, with all manner of funny words, when Bear constructs his inventions. Her rhyming text on those pages is bouncy and fun…. A celebration of inventiveness, in both ­contraption and language, this book is a lovely addition to larger collections.” —School Library Journal

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Meet the Author

Kathleen Doherty

Kathleen Doherty is a Reading Specialist and holds an Ed.S. Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She’s written standardized test items for Pearson Inc. and her love of learning has led her to graduate from four different universities. A former teacher of elementary school for over 30 years, Kathy’s work has appeared in numerous magazines. She lives in Indiana.

Meet the Illustrator

Kristyna Litten

Kristyna Litten studied Illustration at the Edinburg College of Art. Having been raised with illustrative and animated influences from Eastern Europe, Kristyna often references Josef Sasek and Marc Boutayant in her work. Exercising a sophisticated color palette, she prefers to draw quickly to give an energetic line to her work and his heavily reliant on a good old pencil and a great big cup of tea to keep her going. She lives in a beautiful village in Yorkshire.