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ROSA'S BIG SUNFLOWER EXPERIMENT

From the Rosa's Workshop series , Vol. 4

An exemplary outing for little scientists.

Rosa models STEM learning for early childhood.

The scientific method—questioning, prediction, research, observation, and noting results—is demonstrated by Rosa and her friends Misha, Dawson, and Shala. Tools and terminology are mostly defined by pictures or context, but Dawson helpfully looks up the meaning of germinate in a book. The book covers each step of Rosa’s experiment, from planting the seed to examining the “minibeasts” the fully-grown flowers attract. The effect of light is noted when one plant is left in the dark and others are seen turning toward the window. Three other titles in the Rosa’s Workshop series introduce other friends: Jamil, Sadiq, Kezia, Gina, Mali, Roman, and Lottie; most are kids of color, like Rosa. Rosa plays with just three other children in each title—a reasonable size for a play group of active, curious, and eager-to-learn children. Her friends reflect a healthy diversity of gender, heritage, family, and disability. Shala uses a wrist splint, and Rosa and Roman wear glasses. Rosa’s Big Boat Experiment uses water play to explore density and flotation. Rosa’s Big Bridge Experiment highlights engineering and teamwork. After exploring the properties of yeast in Rosa’s Big Pizza Experiment, they share the results. The sturdy pages will stand up to handling when children use these titles as inspiration for their own hands-on projects. These will be useful in classrooms as well as for parents and caregivers thrust into the role of teacher by Covid.

An exemplary outing for little scientists. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-78628-364-1

Page Count: 20

Publisher: Child's Play

Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2020

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IZZY GIZMO AND THE INVENTION CONVENTION

From the Izzy Gizmo series

A disappointing follow-up.

Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).

While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.

A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: March 1, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Peachtree

Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020

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I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER

Parent-child love and affection, appealingly presented, with the added attraction of the seasonal content and lack of gender...

A polar-bear parent speaks poetically of love for a child.

A genderless adult and cub travel through the landscapes of an arctic year. Each of the softly rendered double-page paintings has a very different feel and color palette as the pair go through the seasons, walking through wintry ice and snow and green summer meadows, cavorting in the blue ocean, watching whales, and playing beside musk oxen. The rhymes of the four-line stanzas are not forced, as is the case too often in picture books of this type: “When cold, winter winds / blow the leaves far and wide, / You’ll cross the great icebergs / with me by your side.” On a dark, snowy night, the loving parent says: “But for now, cuddle close / while the stars softly shine. // I’ll always be yours, / and you’ll always be mine.” As the last illustration shows the pair curled up for sleep, young listeners will be lulled to sweet dreams by the calm tenor of the pictures and the words. While far from original, this timeless theme is always in demand, and the combination of delightful illustrations and poetry that scans well make this a good choice for early-childhood classrooms, public libraries, and one-on-one home read-alouds.

Parent-child love and affection, appealingly presented, with the added attraction of the seasonal content and lack of gender restrictions. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-68010-070-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: July 1, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017

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