Ziggy's Blue-Ribbon Day Book

Every kid’s a winner!

Ziggy dreads track-and-field day. He isn’t good at running races or at high or long jumping. He isn’t good at throwing balls, either. Ziggy is good at drawing pictures, but there’s no picturedrawing event on track-and-field day. At least he can decorate the envelope that will hold his disappointing gray ribbons. To Ziggy’s surprise, his drawing becomes a huge hit! The kids all want their envelopes decorated by Ziggy – and offer him their blue ribbons in exchange.

Bright, animated pictures add spunk to a story about the joy of doing what one does best.

Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz - Children's Literature

On track-and-field day, Ziggy is hoping for rain. He is good at drawing, but not at any of the events of the day. His teacher emphasizes that it is important to do your best, cheer for everyone, and have fun. But as he has tried and cheered, but has only a silver/gray participant ribbon for each event, Ziggy feels bad. Still his classmates come to admire the beautiful pictures he has drawn on the envelope with his ribbons, and offer him one of their prize blue ribbons if he will decorate theirs. Ziggy happily skips the optional races and draws away. He ends up with five blue ribbons for doing what he likes to do, and has had fun as well. Alley's double-page scenes depict a mixed group of elementary youngsters in energetic action unashamedly displaying their emotions. Ziggy's feelings seem more pensive, even dreamy in one scene, as he creates his pictures, still feeling demoralized by his failures. But as he is asked to draw by his classmates, his face becomes animated and his posture upright. In this hopeful story—which could open class discussions—individuals are valued for their different talents. 2005, Farrar Straus and Giroux, Ages 4 to 7.