I Am Extraordinary

K-Gr 2–“All [Zoe] ever wanted was to be ordinary, just like all the other kids.” At her new school, she worries about wearing hearing aids—especially if she’s going to try out for the soccer team. Three new friends recognize her talent and encourage her to join. Although just 10 minutes long, NBA star-turned-author Curry’s sophomore title gets a memorable full-cast production: Leigh is an empathic narrator; Martin ciphers Zoe’s many emotions; Lysy is warmly wise Mila; Marso is friendly Marley and Brooklyn; Free is kind older brother Aaron and encouraging author Curry. Bouncy sound effects accentuate the narration throughout but can’t quite replace a side-by-side read-along. On the page, “Who wants to be ordinary...when you can be...EXTRAORDINARY!” is visually emphasized with illustrations of a baseball player using a wheelchair, a runner with a prosthesis—images that the audio’s crack of a bat and rhythmic steps can’t replicate.