In this picture book biography, McDonnell (Wag!) examines Goodall's very English childhood and her unexpected wish—nurtured by early exposure to Tarzan—to live and work in Africa. On the left, earnest text appears on cream-colored paper embellished with delicate vintage images of trees and animals. On the right, by contrast, McDonnell's winsome ink and watercolor drawings come across as sweetly goofy. Jane spends most of her time sitting quietly, watching living things. "One day," McDonnell writes, "curious Jane wondered where eggs came from. So she and Jubilee snuck into Grandma Nutt's chicken coop... hid beneath some straw, stayed very still... and observed the miracle." (The hen looks just as surprised as Jane.) Best of all is a spread that shows Jane fantasizing living like Tarzan's Jane in Africa; she swings on a vine through the jungle, dressed in a sensible cardigan and a tartan skirt. Back matter fills in readers about Goodall's accomplishments as an adult; McDonnell's concentration on her childhood fantasies carries a strong message to readers that their own dreams—even the wildly improbable ones—may be realizable, too. Ages 3–6. (Apr.)
It seems like Americans are more interested in ever than taking part in their democracy—and kids want in on the action! But how does a child speak up, march, or make a change in this great, big world? These eight books are full of ideas for young activists, telling the stories of kids who took […]
The arrival of March means that spring is almost here. It also means that it’s time to celebrate Women’s History month! This is the perfect chance to commemorate all of the fantastic women who have blazed trails in history, and share their stories with the next generation of girls who will also go on to […]
You can always tell the kids who think like scientists. They’re the ones who won’t leave the tub till they’ve tried out all five dozen toys. And the ones who use their younger siblings as test subjects. And the ones who don’t freak out about bugs—they get in for a closer look. Scientist kids rule. […]