Beaty and Roberts return to the themes (and second-grade classroom) of 2007’s Iggy Peck, Architect to revel in the talents and insecurities of one of his classmates. Rosie Revere loves nothing more than to create Rube Goldberg–worthy contraptions during the wee hours of the morning. But an earlier incident has sapped Rosie’s self-confidence: after she created a quirky snake-deterring hat for a beloved zookeeper uncle, his response was devastating: “He laughed till he wheezed and his eyes filled with tears,/ all to the horror of Rosie Revere.” It takes a visit from another enterprising family member to restore Rosie’s faith in herself. The book’s message—that the unthinking words and actions of adults can have a chilling effect on children—is an important one, though Beaty hammers it a bit hard in her singsong rhymes. Luckily, Roberts compensates with comically detailed mixed-media illustrations that keep the mood light and emphasize Rosie’s creativity at every turn. To wit, in Rosie’s version of using every part of the buffalo, she doesn’t let a single baby doll appendage go to waste. Ages 5–up. (Sept.)
The smell of achievement laced with honeysuckle is in the air. Kindergarteners are bringing home stacks of priceless macaroni art, and sleep-deprived teenagers are up at 3 a.m. putting the final touches on their term papers. Have you guessed what I’m getting at? It’s graduation time, of course! Chances are, you’re attending a ceremony this […]
As someone raising both a son and a daughter, I’m always on the lookout for books that empower both of them to grow into strong, happy, healthy adults. That’s every parent’s dream, right? While my daughter went through a princess phase just like many other girls her age, she simultaneously expressed an interest in trains, […]
One of the best things about being a kid is the ability to come up with the zany, the extraordinary, the impossible, and having the faith to believe it can be made into a reality. And who knows? Maybe the zany isn’t so far-fetched at all. For all the kid inventors out there, here’s a […]
When I was in elementary school I really wanted a job. Paperwork, answering phones, carrying a briefcase, having meetings, seemed really… fun. My friends and I would play office as much as we would play with our Barbies. Needless to say, one of my favorite school “holidays” was take your kids to work day. Not […]
I may be an avid bookworm and a firm believer that every kid needs a great book collection, but that doesn’t mean I’m a snob who abhors television. On the contrary, TV has been a big part of my life and has brought me just as much joy as books have. And, if I’m being […]