Lively Elizabeth!: What Happens When You Push, written by Mara Bergman and illustrations by Cassia Thomas, for children 3-6 yrs. Bergman uses rhyme in a very vibrant way to capture her characters and story line. Cassie, a first-time children’s book illustrator, impressively uses vivid color and detail to beautifully support this story. A winning combination for both author and illustrator.
Elizabeth is a tad too high-spirited for her own good. She is energetic, fun-loving, and mischievous. While standing in line at school, she decides to push Joe Fitzhugh, who knocks down Ethan Snell, who falls on Annabelle, who bumps Norine… thus creating huge chain reaction of crashes, flailing arms and legs, knocked down sporting equipment, books and musical instruments. Joe Fitzhugh explodes in anger at Elizabeth and yells “You pushed me and hurt everyone!” Elizabeth faces her peers, which may even more challenging than the teacher.
Lively Elizabeth is fun story that provides an excellent teaching moment for parents and teachers to start talking with young children about pushing, accountability, apologizing and forgiveness. In fact, it’s a book to be read and reread often to remind children to respect one another.
Children's Books Heal 
What a great way to introduce the concept of respecting others and seeing the consequences of one’s actions, using humor and what sound to be great illustrations to get the point across. I think its good to show the correction coming from Elizabeth’s peers, as well, rather than an adult saying “Don’t push!” Also, showing how far-reaching the consequences of one seemingly small action can be would be a good conversation starter.
Thanks, Pat!
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Thought you would enjoy this book. There is no parent or teacher involvement in the book. It’s Elizabeth and her peers — the best way to learn the consequences of your behavior. This was truly a book that showed a lot of colorful action. And, the author used rhyme in a very creative way.
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This is a great story for those intentional and unintentional little pushers, that there are consequences, sometimes far reaching, to our little acts of disrespect. The story lends itself to what I can imagine are some hilarious illustrations, Pat, and I would love to read the accompanying rhyme. I love Joe’s outburst – straight to the point, and no doubt with a beautifully illustrated wounded look.
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The illustrations were exceptional — and it was Cassie’s debut book. She has a bright future ahead of her. Kids will love the artwork because of the detail. There was such a commotion caused by one michevious “push,” that children will laugh, but get the point that pushing is not okay. The kids taught her a very good lesson. It was amazing how she wrote this in rhyme. It is so subtle, that you don’t realize it at first because of how the words fall on the page along with the artwork.
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What a lovely book Pat, and such cute illustrations, amazing it is Cassie’s debut book.
I would pick this up in a whisker! just for the illustrations alone.
Thankyou for sharing.
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Glad you like the selection. The illustrator is amazing. Would love to have her illustrate my work. The storyline was so simple, but beautifully told. Great book for young kids.
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