Karate Kakapo

by Loredana Cunti (Author) Stacy Curtis (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Kakapo is crazy about karate. No student at her dojo tries harder or practices more. She loves the blocks, the strikes, the stances. And she especially loves the super-fast kicks: the running kicks, the jumping kicks, the side kicks ... but no amount of practice can help her conquer the elusive flying kick. You see, kakapos can't fly. Despite this, Kakapo works hard on everything else to perfect her skills. She has earned every belt from yellow to green to blue to red. And now it's time for the most difficult karate challenge of all: the black belt test. Kakapo is ready. After all, she has practiced as much as any bird could and mastered all the moves. Except that one, of course. But surely the senseis won't ask her to do a flying kick. Will they?Loredana Cunti's adorable Kakapo discovers (with a little help from a kind teacher!) that sometimes seeing a problem from a different perspective can help you solve it. It's a wonderful model for children facing obstacles in their own lives, and a great example of a growth mindset. It aligns with social studies lessons on self-awareness and personal development. Award-winning cartoonist Stacy Curtis's illustrations of a kakapo doing karate are hilarious and full of energy, and just might inspire some new students of karate (or other martial arts). The art was reviewed by a karate expert to ensure the moves are accurately portrayed. This playful and funny picture book is perfect for storytime. It also makes a great choice for character education lessons on self-discipline and perseverance.
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Hardcover
$16.99

Kirkus

Kakapo is an avid martial arts student.

All forms are interesting to her, but karate is her favorite. For her, it’s all about the kicks: side kicks, jumping kicks, running kicks—everything except flying kicks. She gives up on flying kicks after several tries, deciding that mastering them is an impossibility. It’s a fact that kakapos can’t fly. Cartoon-style art featuring expressive ink lines captures the bright-green enthusiast. Each spread bursts with color and action until the night before her test for her black belt. This scene, in shades of gray, reflects Kakapo’s dark, worried mood. What if the senseis ask her to do a flying kick? The day of the test, Kakapo confidently goes through her paces until she’s asked to demonstrate the flying kick. Kakapo explains that she can’t. The wise sensei, a bespectacled flamingo, rephrases the request: “please show us a running, jumping side kick.” Kakapo has never heard of this but is determined to try. “Ka-ka-POW!” Only later does she realize that she’s successfully done a flying kick! The point is delivered with the precision and power of a karate chop: Failure in any given area is never preordained. That Kakapo is an athlete is a plus, but her story will resonate with all children whatever their endeavor. A brief glossary of karate terms used in the book completes the package.

“Ka-ka-POW” indeed. (Picture book. 4-8)

Review quotes




Loredana Cunti
Loredana Cunti is the author of To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space and Go for Liftoff!: How to Train Like an Astronaut. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Stacy Curtis is an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator and printmaker. He has illustrated several children's books, including The Seven Habits of Happy Kids and the Raymond and Graham chapter book series. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781771388030
Lexile Measure
580
Guided Reading Level
O
Publisher
Kids Can Press
Publication date
April 02, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002040 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Birds
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV032070 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Martial Arts
Library of Congress categories
Birds
Picture books
Kakapo
Karate
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Birds
JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Mart
Ability testing

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