Boing Boing

Here’s a tale about a girl who is different yet cheery, for rather than focus on the limitations of her distinguishing feature, she embraces its virtues. Jane does not walk, but bounces. This is due to the springs in her knees that take the place of regular joints – an extraordinary addition to any child. She becomes known as Springy Jane, and demonstrates her ability to win at sports, get things from the top shelf, boing boinging down the stairs, and simply bouncing over the people who stare. Everything is going in a lively fashion, until the day an enormous storm floods Jane’s town, leaving an old lady trapped on her rooftop. Not to worry – Jane is at hand with her springy knees, and the resourceful girl simply bounces over rooftops and rescues the stranded lady (to resounding cheers of admiration).

Such a positive girl is Jane that when the rain rusts her springs, and she is ‘cured’ by surgery, she simply makes the most of her new way of getting about by enjoying the walking. And that’s not all. At Jane’s next birthday, the grateful old lady, rescued in the flood, bakes a cake decorated with springs and gives her the best present of all – a pogo stick. So from now on Jane can choose to walk or bounce her jolly way through life.

Vibrant and energetic pictures, with zany characters rendered in a comic book style, bound across the pages with vivacity and wit. A real ‘Pollyanna’ story appealing to all, especially those wheelchair-bound kids, who are faster on wheels than their pedestrian peers. And of course, a story that features kindness, support and acceptance is a welcome addition to any library or school bookshelf.