The Little Blue Bridge

January 1, 2021

K-Gr 3-This reimagining of the Norwegian story of the three billy goats gruff replaces animals with four children who want to cross a log over a river to get to where the blueberries grow. Even though it is Ruby's idea, her three older brothers run off without her. On the bridge, they encounter Santiago, a disheveled bully of a boy who wants a snack in exchange for letting them cross the river. The mischievous brothers tell Santiago that their sister has the best snacks and scamper across the log. By the time Ruby arrives, she decides to build her own bridge. Santiago gets mad and falls into the water. He then helps Ruby build the bridge and together they cross to eat blueberries together, even though nothing was stopping him from eating them before. No context is given as to why an apparently homeless, hungry boy is in the role of the evil toll-taking troll; we only know he is alone on a log, and craving a snack. The book's final statement is that with Ruby's bridge, still guarded by Santiago, now everyone can cross the creek. It's an ineffective message, given that Ruby's brothers had no problem. S�nchez's illustrations are dynamic and colorful; she shows Ruby and her brothers each as a different shade of brown, while Santiago is more pale and pink-cheeked. The characters' poses and facial expressions are charming. Back matter shows different types of bridges and features an author's note about the history of the original story. VERDICT There are many other versions of this folktale in print, making this an unnecessary purchase; however, fans of the author's previous outing, The Little Red Fort, may want to take a look.-Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2021
Trolls come in different sizes and species--as enterprising Ruby and her three brothers are about to find out. How are they going to pick pails of blueberries for their pie if Santiago the bully won't let them cross the creek? Each of the three brothers throws the one behind under the proverbial bus in order reach the berries. When it's Ruby's turn to cross Santiago's log, she has another idea. Rather than hand over her nonexistent snack as a toll to the trollish lad, she relies on her creativity and problem-solving skills. With a blueprint, tools, and supplies, Ruby's ingenuity--and Santiago's surprising cooperation--manifests as a blue wooden bridge spanning both creek and misunderstandings. What could the toll be for crossing Ruby's bridge? Pie! Following The Little Red Fort (2018), Maier and S�nchez are back with another bicultural take on a favorite folktale: "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." The feisty Latina protagonist, red boots and all, is still being sidetracked by her older brothers and the bully of the creek, but, as in the prior book, neither Ruby's size nor gender is an obstacle to success. Along with succinct dialogue, the refrain's internal rhymes make for a fun read-aloud experience. Barcelona-born S�nchez's familiar, bold illustrations form a delightful backdrop to the repurposed story, from the irate bridge bully to the stymied sibling triumvirate. Readers will happily discover that trip-trapping to friendship and cooperation is indeed a pie-worthy prize. (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 In this follow-up to The Little Red Fort (2018), Ruby returns for a witty retelling of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." When Ruby suggests that she and her three brothers go blueberry picking across the creek, they run into trouble from bully Santiago, who stations himself on the rickety log bridge and shouts, "I'm the boss and you can't cross . . . unless you give me a snack!" As each brother tries to pass, he wiggles out of Santiago's demand by saying that the next sibling has a better snack to give (not true!). Finally, only Ruby is left, with no snack to offer, so she isn't permitted to cross. Undeterred, Ruby gathers sticks, stones, vines, and blue boards and builds a bridge of her own, even letting an intrigued Santiago help. S�nchez's colorful, mixed-media illustrations often use loose scribbles that cast an appropriately childlike energy over the story. Many positive qualities are demonstrated here, including problem solving, tenacity, self-confidence, and helpfulness, making this a worthwhile refresh of a classic with a slight Latinx twist.

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