Adams, Diane 1960–

PERSONAL: Born 1960; married. Education: University of Redlands, B.A.; studied at Art Center College of Design.

ADDRESSES: Home—Redlands, CA. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Peachtree Publishers, 1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318.

CAREER: Art and writing teacher.

WRITINGS:

Zoom! (picture book), illustrated by Kevin Luthardt, Peachtree Publishers (Atlanta, GA), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Diane Adams, an art and writing instructor; with the publication of Zoom!, she also became a children's book author. Geared toward preschoolers and students in the younger grades, this picture book tells the story of one young boy's triumph over his own fears. Encouraged by his eager father, the little boy reluctantly agrees to go on the Dino Coaster at the local amusement part. After the two reach the top and begin the first huge drop of the roller-coaster ride, explained School Library Journal contributor Grace Oliff, "the roles are reversed, with the child obviously thrilled and Dad clearly not." Throughout the ride, the illustrations by Kevin Luthardt show the boy beaming and waving his arms enthusiastically, the fear gone from his face. At the same time his father has the look of someone caught in a trap and wishing to be anywhere else. The story itself "unspools in singsongy couplets with plenty of heavy-duty action words," noted a Publishers Weekly reviewer, capturing the "lurching," "jerking," and "rumbling" of the roller coaster car as it speeds around the track. In the end of course, it is the little boy who decides to go around for a second time, while his father sits on the nearest bench.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Publishers Weekly, April 11, 2005, review of Zoom!, p. 53.

School Library Journal, May, 2005, Grace Oliff, review of Zoom!, p. 76.