In which there are spacesuits, spaceships, robots, and mathematics, for younger readers
- All illustrations from Blast Off, 1973, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, written by Linda C Cain and Susan Rosenbaum, which I haven't read but seems to be a children's book about an African American girl who wants to travel in space so much that she builds a spaceship of her own design out of junk. See brainpickings for more info.
- Reading, books 2016, 123.
103. Cosmo and the Robot, by Brian Pinkney, 2000, is an illustrated book for young children about a Black boy on Mars with his astronaut family, including a sister who likes to cook and their scientist mother and scientist father (both depicted doing actual hands-on experimental science). Cosmo and his older sister Jewel are sent out to collect rocks for their parents but they have a dangerous encounter with a damaged robot that Cosmo manages to fix with his very practical toy toolkit (also very cool). Definitely a boys' book for boys but nonetheless a good addition to expand my list of non-white children in space. (4/5)
106. Little Robot, by Ben Hatke, is a children's skiffy picture book about the love of a little Black girl for her robot and their successful rebellion against The System. It's so important to have girls and Black/Latina characters shown as enjoying engineering and, of course, panders to all my personal preferences too. The plot has several pleasing twists and turns and is well-paced throughout. It probably goes without saying that Ben Hatke's art is fabulous and adorable. I wish this had existed when I was a little tinkerer with a pin hammer of my very own! (5/5)
NOTE: Lowriders in Space, by Cathy Camper and Raul Gonzalez, being themed around a Latina-ish mechanic, is also an excellent choice for your diverse engineering and sfnal picture book needs. I previously reviewed Lowriders in Space here.
[ I also recently read 119. Einstein, the Girl Who Hated Maths, by John Agard and Satoshi Kitamura, which is an illustrated book of poems about maths, centred around a Black girl character, and aimed at children. (3/5) ]
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- Reading, books 2016, 123.
103. Cosmo and the Robot, by Brian Pinkney, 2000, is an illustrated book for young children about a Black boy on Mars with his astronaut family, including a sister who likes to cook and their scientist mother and scientist father (both depicted doing actual hands-on experimental science). Cosmo and his older sister Jewel are sent out to collect rocks for their parents but they have a dangerous encounter with a damaged robot that Cosmo manages to fix with his very practical toy toolkit (also very cool). Definitely a boys' book for boys but nonetheless a good addition to expand my list of non-white children in space. (4/5)
106. Little Robot, by Ben Hatke, is a children's skiffy picture book about the love of a little Black girl for her robot and their successful rebellion against The System. It's so important to have girls and Black/Latina characters shown as enjoying engineering and, of course, panders to all my personal preferences too. The plot has several pleasing twists and turns and is well-paced throughout. It probably goes without saying that Ben Hatke's art is fabulous and adorable. I wish this had existed when I was a little tinkerer with a pin hammer of my very own! (5/5)
NOTE: Lowriders in Space, by Cathy Camper and Raul Gonzalez, being themed around a Latina-ish mechanic, is also an excellent choice for your diverse engineering and sfnal picture book needs. I previously reviewed Lowriders in Space here.
[ I also recently read 119. Einstein, the Girl Who Hated Maths, by John Agard and Satoshi Kitamura, which is an illustrated book of poems about maths, centred around a Black girl character, and aimed at children. (3/5) ]
This entry was originally posted at http://spiralsheep.dreamwidth.org/590018.html and has
comments Please comment there using OpenID.