Review: It's Count Your Buttons Day!

Yes, indeedy, there is a special day just for counting your buttons. As a part-time seamstress, I have many-o-buttons to count, but I think I’d rather read a picture book involving a button, wouldn’t you? Of course you would! I happen to have a book suggestion just for this occasion. I present to you: ​

​TITLE: SWAP
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Steve Light
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press/2016
OPENING LINES: An old ship.
                            A sad friend.
                            A button…
                            An idea,
                            Let’s SWAP!
 
I love so much about this book. It’s got pirates, maps, monkeys, mermaids, teacups, maritime flags, fish, anchors, peg legs, and, most of all, a message of friendship and kindness. And it all starts with a button.

​A pirate boy sees that his friend’s ship is in disrepair, so he encourages him to trade a button for two teacups, which are then traded for rope, and so on and so on, until the bartering leads to a happy pirate and a happy ending. Steve Light’s minimal text is matched with his signature intricate pen-and-ink illustrations to give the reader oh, so much to take in. The illustrations are mostly black & white with punches of bright blue, but splashes of other colors accentuate the items swapped. Even more to love: adorable map end papers (be sure to look at both the front and back) and a surprise hidden under the dust jacket. I highly recommend you  read SWAP!
 
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