Geta Toss

by Bonnie Ferrante

Emily just doesn't know what to make of the new girl. Yuko eats strange food, plays Jan Ken Poi, and kicks her shoe in the air! What's worse, Emily’s best friend, Maria, finds her interesting Can a pair of shoes help two best friends become three best friends? (Discussion questions are included.)

30 pages, Paperback

Published February 27, 2018

About the author

Bonnie Ferrante is a hybrid writer (publishing traditionally and self-publishing). She was a grade school teacher for thirty-three years, ten as teacher-librarian. She has received three OAC grants for her writing. She has recently entered the field of self-publishing and is greatly enjoying illustrating her own picture books although this becomes more difficult as her Parkinson's Disease progresses.
Bonnie also has a Youtube site.
"Welcome parents, teachers, and kids to my safe youtube site. Kids can listen to a book being read or a story being told, learn about words and numbers, and sing along. Adults can watch a book trailer and find new ways to teach your children using inexpensive materials, active learning, and the outdoors."

Reviews

[Priya Narayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geta Toss is a wonderful book about making new friends as well as accepting diversity. At first, I thought the title had been misspelt – it should have read Get a Toss, my mind reasoned. However, the story unraveled that Geta is a Japanese word for a special kind of shoe and that put everything in perspective. I was excited to learn a few more Japanese words through the story and few Japanese customs and feel this would be an important takeaway for all kids reading this book.

As for the story itself, the part about how the new girl Yuka feels lonely in the beginning and how one of the girls in class feels insecure that her best friend would dump her and become friends with Yuka are both very real and believable. Children will be able to relate to these situations easily and also learn from them. The follow-up questions and notes at the end of the book will help parents/teachers to open up a discussion with children regarding these sensitive topics.

The illustrations could have been better, but that doesn’t take anything away from the story itself. All in all, Geta Toss is a great read for 5-6 year olds.

[Scott Spotson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about making new friends and keeping the old ones.

I enjoyed the prose, which sounded the right note for its target audience. The illustrations were okay, but did match the story well.

I think the originality of this story carries it away well. It also introduces new cultural concepts to a North American audience.

[Ronit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about Yoko, the new girls in the classroom. She was new but also a Japanese. In this book, we see how hard it is the be different from the other kids. Yoko found that she can make contact with the other girls through a game. it calls Geta Toss.

This is a wonderful story of difficulties of being not just the new kid in the school but also coming from a different background. It is a story about friendship. They had to find a way to keep the old friend and having a new one too. In the end, kids love to play games no matter where they are from.

I like the illustration of the book.

I recommend this book to kids ages 4-8

I have got the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sonya D.Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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