Illustrator: Yao Xiao
Published by Make Me a World on April 7, 2020
Genres: Picture Book, Nonfiction
Pages: 40
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
From Ashima Shiraishi, one of the world's youngest and most skilled climbers, comes a true story of strength and perseverence--in rock-climbing and in life.
To a rock climber, a boulder is called a "problem," and you solve it by climbing to the top. There are twists and turns, falls and scrapes, and obstacles that seem insurmountable until you learn to see the possibilities within them. And then there is the moment of triumph, when there's nothing above you but sky and nothing below but a goal achieved.
Ashima Shiraishi draws on her experience as a world-class climber in this story that challenges readers to tackle the problems in their own lives and rise to greater heights than they would have ever thought possible.
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
At age 15, Ashima Shiraishi became the first female and youngest climber to solve a V15 (boulder) problem. The next year, she swept the IFSC Youth World Champions for the third year running and placed first on the SCS Nationals. In her debut picture book, Shiraishi shares how she approaches a problem, which is what rock climbers call their boulders. Which is to say, she falls a lot. Each time, she gets back up, takes what she learned through her fall, and approaches the problem again, and again. The artwork represents her problems as stars that form a constellation, which is completed when she solves the problem and ascends the height of the boulder. The title of the book works on multiple levels. Literally, it figures in the book as the boulder that Shiraishi challenges; figuratively, it stands in for any number of problems that we might face. And we can learn from Shiraishi’s response: to persevere, learn from her falls, and keep challenging her problem.
Discussion Questions
- What process does Ashima Shiraishi go through to solve a problem?
- Think about some problems you face, or have faced. What are the similarities between your problem and the “problem” that Shiraishi challenges in the book? The differences?
- How can we apply the thinking process that Shiraishi uses to solve a rock-climbing problem to our own problems?
- What does Shiraishi do when she falls trying to solve a problem?
- Why do you think Shiraishi keeps on climbing after a fall (and even after multiple falls)?
- Think of a problem you’re facing right now. What steps can you take to solve it?
- Why do you think Shiraishi stops to say hello to her problem after she solves it?
Lindsi says
This looks like a fun book! My son loves doing the rock wall at our local YMCA. I know it’s not the same thing, but it is a similar concept. 😉
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Eustacia Tan says
This sounds very interesting – I’ve not heard of Shiraishi and now I want to know more!