Synopsis
Kids have walked through some hard times recently. Their lives have changed. They've experienced loss, and they've they've missed big events and time with friends.
This book is about a toy rabbit who knows what it's like when things don't make sense. He's learning that life often doesn't work out the way that he thinks it should.
His name is Alberto.
He arrives one morning and is instantly loved by a little boy. More than anything else, he wants to become real, but he doesn't know how.
A story of loss, love, and transformation - based on "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams Bianco.
Kids have had a challenging year or so and have had to adapt to so many things changing that were beyond their control. They have had to try and make sense out of things not going as they should. In John Jimerson’s newest book, Alberto, he has created a toy rabbit who perceives what it is like when things do not go as they should. John Jimerson is an actor, voiceover actor, and reads children’s books on his YouTube channel. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his family.
Alberto is a chapter book based on "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams Bianco. In this book, the unidentified boy receives a stuffed bunny in his Christmas stocking. He decides to name the bunny “Alberto.” Like all children who get a new toy, the boy carried Alberto with him everywhere he went. One day Na-Na swept through cleaning up all the toys and Alberto got misplaced. During this time Alberto was lonely until he discovered a horse to talk to. They discussed what it signified to be “real” and the process that it took.
A lot is going on in this little chapter book. It is a story of loss, devotion, and conversion. It has a bit of magic and lots of imagination. There is even an intermission in the middle of the book encouraging the reader to take a break and praising them for making it halfway through the book.
The cover of Alberto displays who the story is about. The illustrations are thoughtfully produced. They represent a mix of drawing and coloring. The characters are consistently portrayed throughout the story. The illustrations also follow the storyline smoothly.
I thought this story was okay. I did not quite connect to it in ways that I normally would with children’s books. I do not want to give away spoilers, so I will simply say that the scene with Alberto and the other rabbits felt wrong to me. I did not like that Alberto did not want to be honest about who he was. It especially bothers me in a children’s book because they are so impressionable.
Overall, I think Alberto would best be suited for children between the ages of 4-7. Any child who has misplaced a beloved toy or had a parent clean up their toys will relate to this story. Most children will especially love the ending of the story.
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