Unstoppable Zee


Children - Picture Book
36 Pages
Reviewed on 08/10/2021
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Reesa Shayne is the award-winning author of four children’s picture books including 5-star rated Readers’ Favorite children’s books: My Day With Grandma, Unstoppable Zee, and When We All Wear A Mask. She is also the author of the children’s book, Polly Pear. Reesa Shayne holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Boston University and a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication from Columbia University in the city of New York. She is a lover of the written word and an avid reader. You can visit her online at reesashaynebooks.com or at any of her social media handles including @reesashaynebooks on Instagram and TikTok.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Unstoppable Zee, written by Reesa Shayne and illustrated by Juanita Taylor, is a children's picture book that follows a little girl named Zee and is narrated in her first-person voice. Zee introduces herself and the 'superpowers' she has, according to her mother. In a series of affirmations that embody Zee's strengths and foster positive thinking and self-empowerment, Zee is depicted exercising the very best of her capabilities, including gardening, art, music, and fine motor skills through building blocks, running, and other things she excels in. The story is brought to life with colorful and realistic freehand spread illustrations where we can see Zee in action with beauty and clarity.

Reesa Shayne has done an excellent job creating a story that is easy to engage with and has all the right components to keep a young reader turning the pages. The blending of imagination and small but real actions that can build a child up is matched only by some of the finer points of this story. There were a couple of standouts that genuinely made my heart flutter and set this book apart from other similar tales. The first is that Zee is part of a family of color, which was a welcome diversity in my home, where children in books are less likely to look like my own daughter. The second is that, while baking, Zee's father is in the kitchen and not her mother. Zee goes through her list of affirmations, but Shayne also inserts subtle micro-affirmations, enhanced by Juanita Taylor's exceptional artwork. Together, Shayne and Taylor are a dream team, and as a family, we look forward to what comes next from the pair.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Unstoppable Zee is a charming picture book by Reesa Shayne. Zee is a little girl with boundless energy. She can make flowers grow, draw wonderful pictures, run faster than anyone else, and make the best cupcakes with Dad’s help. She’s a musician, a drummer, and a singer, and she can make her parents dance to her rhythm. She is so happy and keen to try doing just about anything and everything – so much so that her Mom calls her Unstoppable Zee. There are so many possibilities of what this little girl, this Unstoppable Zee, can do – the sky is quite literally the limit. However, she can probably go beyond that as well.

Reesa Shayne’s picture book story, Unstoppable Zee, is a cute, inspirational story about the boundless energy and enthusiasm of the young. Told in simple rhyming verse, the story is lyrical. It will definitely appeal to young readers who are not afraid to try anything in their enthusiasm toward life and all it offers. They should all be encouraged to be adventurous and work toward their goals. The colorful illustrations are bold and just as much fun to study as the words are to read. The story is a powerful example of diversity, clearly demonstrating that everyone can achieve whatever they set their minds to, regardless of ethnicity or any other factor. The bottom line, and perhaps slightly hidden message, is that learning should be fun: being who you are, being proud of who you are, and what you can do should also be fun.

Kristine Zimmerman

Unstoppable Zee by Reesa Shayne is an exuberant, joyful story about a young girl. Zee is a little girl full of energy, one who chooses to celebrate all the amazing things she can do. Her mom nicknames her Unstoppable Zee because of her boundless energy. Zee can run, build, decorate and bounce, and she does it all with confidence. Whatever Zee sets her mind to, she can accomplish. Zee is shown doing all these things while having fun at the same time. Shayne has written a simple but empowering story. Unstoppable Zee will also work well as a beginning reader with its clear, bold text and colorful illustrations.

Unstoppable Zee is an engaging and celebratory story. Zee is a delightful character and exudes joy. Shayne's rhyme schemes are perfect and will be a delight to read out loud. As a former children's librarian, Unstoppable Zee would have been a story that I would have used in storytime frequently. The illustrations by Juanita Taylor are lovely. Zee is adorable with her big brown eyes and expressive face. I love Zee's superhero cape, and the letter Z stitched on the front of her shirt. Kids will immediately identify with her. Shayne has captured the joy and confidence that young children have in their willingness to try everything and their pride in their accomplishments. It's a shame that we lose this as we grow older. Unstoppable Zee is a must-purchase for libraries and schools and a perfect combination of plot and pictures. Hopefully, we will be able to read about more of Zee's adventures soon!