Iris and Cora - Adventures of the Tall Cousins

by Jennifer Paquette, Krystan Maclean (Illustrator )

Cousins Iris and Cora love being tall. They love it so much they formed a club! Then one day, when faced with hurtful words, Iris begins to question her feelings about being tall. As Iris's confidence sinks, Cora's love for her soars - lifting them both to new heights.

A fun and uplifting story for young readers that reminds us we are what we think and illustrates that when we know this, the sky's the limit!

40 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2021

Reviews

[Emily Schryver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've been asked by my toddler about 10 times, just this morning, to read this book again! It's a favourite in our household! Iris and Cora are the perfect duo and this book is the perfect mix of fun giggles, and deep messages to remind our littles of what's truly the most important... what we THINK about ourselves is our real truth.

The "Stand Tall" club and what it represents is one of my favourite pages to read as a mother to two, and as a teacher. It's simple, yet powerful message teaches our littles about diversity, inclusivity, and kindness... the three most important traits I always strive to instil in growing minds.

I love Iris' vulnerability and deep feelings. I love Cora's kind heart, and her lightheartedness, yet deep water soul. What a joy to read along as her love for her cousin lifts them both into the sky to explore all that they are, and all that they can be, want to be, and will be.

This book really is so special and such a gift to any young mind (an older mind alike).

[Alex Saslove-Raisbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom of 3 young children, I am always trying to ensure that they embrace the things that make them different from one another, and find the qualities within themselves that make each one unique and special. I loved Iris and Cora- Adventures of the Tall cousins, because it is about this exact thing. Embracing your uniqueness and thriving because of it! The special bond between the two cousins is so beautifully written and one that is relatable for anyone with a cousin, sibling, or best friend that they love completely! It's perfectly heartwarming and uplifting. My kids absolutely loved the illustrations- especially the pictures of Iris and Cora flying together over the CN tower! "Look mommy, it's the CN tower! We've been there! That IS tall!" Seeing a hometown landmark they recognized, was very exciting to them! Iris and Cora have made their way into our night time book rotation, and I would highly recommend it for every family book shelf!

[Natasha Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is such a wonderful story with such a great message. It follows the lives of two young girls (cousins) who are very tall and who love that they are tall. Then one day, one of the girls is laughed at for being tall and so her self-confidence takes a hit. She becomes upset and begins to have negative feelings about her height until her cousin helps lift her spirits. Together they learn that it’s what they think about themselves and how they perceive themselves that makes them who they are. This is a very heart-warming and inspiring story that is great for young readers. The illustrations are extremely well-done; they are cute, colourful and captivating! This book will no doubt be a valued treasure on our family's bookshelf for years to come.

[Jenna Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have two very tall kiddos and we love to read in our house. They loved the illustrations and how colourful this book was. They laughed hysterically at the bedroom and bathtub page (I won’t give away any spoilers)

Being tall can be such a powerful thing but I watch my kids faces when strangers exclaim “they’re HUGE for their age”… a mixture of shock and unease, thinking “is that bad?”. So I love introducing books with characters that they can identify with, this book did just that.

I read it first to my daughter and then she asked to read it to her brother. Watching them share that moment was everything.

Can’t wait to hear the next adventure for Iris and Cora

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! I am a teacher/mother of two daughters, and it was so refreshing to read a story that encourages girls to embrace exactly who they are. I love that this story allows my daughters to read about authentic characters who are caring, supportive, imaginative, and brave. The drawings are unique and captivating, and my artistically-inclined daughter has already started trying to imitate them. This book is a very welcome addition to our home library, and will be making regular visits to my classroom at school!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! 😍 Such a sweet, heartwarming story, centered around the power of self love and acceptance. I'm always looking to fill my baby's book collection with conscious books that have a positive message (especially about self love- a very important message to our next growing generation). This book does so perfectly, with kindness, imagination, and, adorable vibrant imagery alongside it. Highly recommend!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated! The message of endless possibilities with self-confidence is woven into the storyline in a way that is fun, engaging, and easy for kids to understand! The book also demonstrates the importance of being kind to others. It opened dialogue with my young son about the importance of kindness and that the words we say affect others; another incredibly important lesson for kids to learn! Great book!

[Kaitland · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girl (4 yrs old) lit up multiple times when we read her this book! The characters are wonderfully written and charmingly relatable and the illustrations are vibrant and eye catching. There are many little details that make the book stand out and I've already noticed something different each time I've read it. I think it will easily become a favourite in our home, and that makes this Momma happy - these themes are so important and just what I want to be sharing with my little one right now.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, easy, yet intriguing read with an important message for both children and adults alike. The illustrations are beautiful and really make the message come to life. I love that this book has such a positive message - we are what we think and the importance of self love and believing in yourself. No matter the age, this book will sure to be a favourite. My kids loved it and it allowed for some great discussion after reading it. Highly recommend!

[Caitlin Koehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom I believe having books for our children that teach confidence in who they are as individuals, inclusivity with others, and that the sky really is the limit is so powerful and important! The illustrations are so bright, fun and magical which pairs perfectly with the words and theme of this book!

[Mary Dallan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, heartwarming story, with fun and engaging illustrations! Definitely one for the treasure chest of books to share with my grandkids. And, the message serves as a reminder even "older" folks can use from time to time. Highly recommend, and hoping there will be further adventures of Iris and Cora!

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! Iris and Cora perfectly illustrates the growing pains of navigating your way through life and making connections with others. It’s a heartwarming exploration of trust and a powerful example of learning to really love yourself. This paired with the colourful & captivating pages proves for a wonderful read that puts a smile on your face front to back. Highly recommended!!

[Kim Dorken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only are Iris and Cora sweet, they are unique and this beautifully written story is a celebration of all that makes us unique and how we can encourage one another to shine as we are and trust ourselves and our own sense of self pride. Our classroom loved this book and we cannot wait to get a copy for our school library!

[Lex Shipley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful story and very uplifting! The author did a great job of conveying her message about loving who you are and that what you think about yourself is what matters. I think this story is great for all ages in teaching children the importance of self love and not worrying too much about what other people think. 10/10 recommend! Get your hands on this asap!

[Rachel LAMBE · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a treat! Celebrating what makes us different is a lesson that is beautifully shared and the vibrant illustrations create a joyful balance. The writer has drawn from her imagination and experience and the result is a sweet story that highlights diversity and the importance of 'learning to fly' even in the face of those that want to ground you. Highly recommend!

[Shelly Villella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable story about kids accepting their uniqueness. It celebrates what makes you different from others and empowers kids to think positively about themselves. I also love the diversity portrayed in the group illustrations. Great topic. Great book. I highly recommend it.

[Teale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book. The words and illustrations paint such a vivid story. Definitely getting one of these for any of my girlfriends with babies, and I can’t wait to read it to my own (bound to be tall) daughter and remind her over and over the power of perspective.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book! Not only is this story line great for kids, but it is a great reminder for adults to embrace everything about yourself! Thank you Jennifer for inspiring me, and reminding me to inspire those around me!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming reminder for any age to embrace who we are. As a mom of a tall little girl this was exactly the message I wanted her to hear. Highly recommend!

[Tomara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply adorable. My (not so tall) 6 year old giggled at all of the pictures and asked about how their superpower came. It was a great lesson in believing in your individual strengths.

[Charlotte Osler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet book! A great book to remind our kiddies to be strong in who they are and believe in themselves no matter what obstacles they face.

[Melissa Shulman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the type of story I want for my children. Such an inspiring story that promotes inclusivity and shows children that it's ok to be your true self and to in fact, embrace it!

[Becky Issenman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is short, I appreciated that this club included everyone! The images are the sweetest and further the imagination to go along with such a fun story.

[Karoline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful storybook with a beautiful message about the power of friendship, finding inner strength, and resisting self-limiting beliefs. Iris and Cora are adorable. Five stars!

[Melissa Orth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mama and teacher, I absolutely loved the book! My own children loved the book and I cannot wait to read and discuss it with my students.

[Heather Du · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a formerly tall child, this story was very relatable. My daughter loved reading it with me! Beautiful story and illustrations! Highly recommend!