Not a page-turner but a charming—and appetizing—bit of didacticism.
Two light-skinned children named X and Y, apparently siblings, ask their brainy aunt, Z, to help them make the pies of their dreams.
X wants to make an infinitely wide pie, while Y imagines a pie that is infinitely tall. Aunt Z explains that “there are infinite different ways to make pastry” and guides the children through the steps of the recipe. When it’s time to roll out the dough, X makes a circle while Y makes a triangle. When they fill the pies, X chooses bananas “because the slices are round,” and Y opts for triangular strawberry slices. Once in the oven, the pies seem “to be taking infinitely long” to bake and smell “infinitely delicious,” and when they’re finished, they’re so scrumptious the kids want them to last forever. Luckily, Aunt Z knows a clever way to make “infinite pie.” She helps the children make yet more dough and shape it into fractals—the Apollonian gasket and the Koch snowflake—that have an infinite number of sides. In the process, Aunt Z explains mathematical concepts (further expounded in the backmatter) in accessible language, including the coordinate plane, combinatorics, polygons, and convergence. This discussion includes a fair amount of precalculus for readers who might not have mastered the times table as yet, but as Cheng says in her author’s note, “if we can get our heads around something daunting, then [we] become more intelligent.” After the baking is done, the characters have more pie than they can eat, but thankfully, they have “infinite friends to share it with.” The illustrations, done in ink and Photoshop, use clever visuals to bring the math lesson to life; for example, on one spread the pie ingredients zoom around the characters, the motion lines making the shape of the infinity symbol.
Not a page-turner but a charming—and appetizing—bit of didacticism. (notes, recipe) (Picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5686-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A delightful story of love and hope.
Families are formed everywhere—including large metropolitan mass-transit systems!
Baby Kevin, initially known as “Danny ACE Doe,” was found in the New York City’s 14th Street subway station, which serves the A-C-E lines, by one of his future fathers, Danny. Kevin’s other father, Pete (author Mercurio), serves as the narrator, explaining how the two men came to add the newborn to their family. Readers are given an abridged version of the story from Danny and Pete’s point of view as they work to formally adopt Kevin and bring him home in time for Christmas. The story excels at highlighting the determination of loving fathers while still including realistic moments of hesitation, doubt, and fear that occur for new and soon-to-be parents. The language is mindful of its audience (for example using “piggy banks” instead of “bank accounts” to discuss finances) while never patronizing young readers. Espinosa’s posterlike artwork—which presents the cleanest New York readers are ever likely to see—extends the text and makes use of unexpected angles to heighten emotional scenes and moments of urgency. The diversity of skin tones, ages, and faces (Danny and Pete both present white, and Kevin has light brown skin) befits the Big Apple. Family snapshots and a closing author’s note emphasize that the most important thing in any family is love. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.3-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 43% of actual size.)
A delightful story of love and hope. (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-525-42754-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Engaging, well-chosen images and a clear, coherent text illuminate the importance of empathy for the world’s inhabitants.
Large color photographs (occasionally composed of montages) and accessible, simple text highlight global similarities and differences, always focusing on our universal connections.
While child readers may not recognize Manzano, the Puerto Rican actress who played Maria on Sesame Street, adults will recognize her as a trusted diverse voice. In her endnote, she explains her desire to “encourage lively conversations about shared experiences.” Starting out with the familiar, home and community, the text begins with “How many WONDERFUL PEOPLE do you know?” Then it moves out to the world: “Did you know there are about 8 BILLION PEOPLE on the planet?” The photo essay features the usual concrete similarities and differences found in many books of this type, such as housing (a Mongolian yurt opposite a Hong Kong apartment building overlooking a basketball court), food (dumplings, pizza, cotton candy, a churro, etc.), and school. Manzano also makes sure to point out likenesses in emotions, as shown in a montage of photos from countries including China, Spain, Kashmir (Pakistan/India), and the United States. At the end, a world map and thumbnail images show the locations of all photos, revealing a preponderance of examples from the U.S. and a slight underrepresentation for Africa and South America.
Engaging, well-chosen images and a clear, coherent text illuminate the importance of empathy for the world’s inhabitants. (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4263-3738-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
Review Posted Online: May 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2020
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