Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic & Chris Park
Touch the Sky
Vern longs to be one of the kids who swoop until their toes touch the sky. He heads to the swings and desperately tries to pump his legs, but he just can’t get it. A chance encounter with precocious (and hilarious) Gretchen gives him just what he needs to know, and he finally learns to soar.
A story for every child on the cusp of learning something new who just needs an extra push to get there.
Carolrhoda Books
Picture Book
Age 4+
32 pp
hc | 229 x 280 mm
Publication: May 2024
Author: Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic
Illustrator: Chris Park
All rights available, excl. Chinese (simpl. & compl.), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish
- Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Relationship Skills, Social Emotional Learning
Awards
- White Raven 2025
- ALA Notable Children's Book, Winner, 2025
- Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year 2025, Winner, 2025
- NPR Best Books of the Year, Winner, 2024
- Kirkus Best Children's Book of 2024, Winner, 2024
- Booklist Editor's Choice, Winner, 2024
- Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices, Winner, 2025
- Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title, Commended, 2025
“Lucianovic demonstrates a keen, child-friendly understanding of what it’s like to master a new skill. . . The energetic, loosely drawn mixed-media illustrations zing with color. . . It’s swing, hit, and no miss with this rip-roaring charmer.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews, 18 March 2024
“Readers of all ages will relate to Vern’s experience of mastering something new, all the stops and starts included. Lucianovic’s vigorous text captures the joy of soaring high into the sky on a swing . . . Park’s illustrations are magnetic, drawing viewers’ eyes to each page.”—Horn Book Magazine, 30 May 2024
“This is a book that soars on multiple levels, grounded in the sense memories of the playground while not only serving as a practical guide but also capturing the challenge, excitement, and wonder of conquering your first swing.”—starred, Booklist, 11 October 2024
“This lovely, dynamic picture book would be an excellent choice for libraries needing stories about the path of learning, step by step, the small joys along the way, and sharing in that joy with others.”—School Library Journal, 17 June 2024
“This is a wonderfully engaging and supportive must-read about personal growth through persisting, trying again, succeeding, and helping others pitched perfectly to resonate with the target audience’s age, context, and interests. Reviewer Rating: 5”—Children’s Literature, 14 April 2024
By the same author and illustrator