Kevin is an orange who doesn’t like his image, so he wants to try being a different colour. His wise friend Brian the pear is happy to help, and advises Kevin on how he can go about making a change – from heading to the north pole to turn blue, to eating a bowl of chillies to turn a spicy shade of red.
Each experiment brings a colourful adventure, as Kevin gradually regains his zest for life and learns that no skin fits quite like your own.
This bright, fun picture book is a celebration of being yourself and a perfect pick-me-up to remind us that summer on the way. It is packed with lovely language (like “he shivered so much, his pips started to rattle”). Olla Meyzinger’s vibrant illustrations are full of the fun details that are a trademark of Little Door’s picture books (look out for the chickens!)
This story’s upbeat energy reminded me of the Supertato books – Alan Windram shares Sue Hendra’s knack for bringing unlikely fruit & vegetables to life and persuading little readers to care about them. The author of the One Button Benny series has already brought us one unlikely (robot) hero to love, and with Kevin, we are enjoying meeting another one.
Kevin the Orange, by Alan Windram, illustrated by Olla Meyzinger (Little Door Books)
If you want more juice on Kevin, check out the other bloggers on the tour (below).
Roaring Reads 