Spring is in the air and so are the new spring picture books and there are some very exciting titles just waiting to be shared.  One that I’m particularity drawn to is Going Up! By Sherry J. Lee and Charlene Chua. The story of a girl and her dad heading up to a party on the tenth floor of their apartment building and all of the other party guests who join them on the elevator.

A celebration of urban life, this book will particularly resonate with urban kids who live in apartment buildings or condos and who get to meet all of their wonderful neighbours riding the elevators.  Sherry J. Lee was able to pack a ton into this simple little story with Charlene Chua brilliantly supporting with her incredible illustrations. We are able to meet all kinds of different families as we ride the elevator with Sophie and her Dad.  We meet same sex families, inter generational families, families with many children, families with none and they all pack onto the elevator to celebrate Olive’s birthday.

This book will make a perfect read aloud, nice and tall just like the elevator car in the story and listeners will love helping the story along by saying, “Going up!” Along with the reader.  You will really be able to break down the story and Sherry J. Lee leaves perfect places to pause, may inferences, ask questions, and talk about the happenings on the elevator.

Charlene Chua adds so much to the story through her incredible illustrations.  She truly captures the diversity in the building by really setting all of the families apart from each other but also reminding us that they are all part of the larger apartment building family of friends and neighbours.