Omar on Board

The first Omar book showed us a boy who was brilliant on ice. This sequel asks what happens when you take that same boy somewhere he has no natural gifts at all. On a summer field trip on the water, Omar sinks, flails, and freezes on the diving board — and Maryann Kovalski lets him sit with that embarrassment for a while before giving him his moment. When it comes, it's not a display of sudden skill. It's a leap toward someone who needs help. That's a richer lesson than most picture books attempt, and it lands warmly. The Ontario Library Association agreed, naming it a Best Bets pick for 2005. The honest note is that the emotional payoff is fuller if you've read the first book. On its own, it still works — just with a bit less weight behind it.