Be curious: moulding a scientific mind through picture books...

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Be curious: moulding a scientific mind through picture books

I used to despise physics and mathematics in school. I was happy to leave them far behind as soon as it was possible. I couldn’t relate to them in any way and they felt so distant, boring and inconsequential. It was clearly a result of the way I was introduced to the subjects. I just wish someone had inculcated in me the wonder and spirit of science at the start. I found it so limiting, which it is everything but. Two picture books I read recently made me feel like science was exciting; a revelation indeed!   Infinity and Me  (written by  Kate Hosford  and illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska) is a picture book that was published in 2012, and talks about the mathematical concept of infinity. Through the inquiring mind of 8-year-old Uma, we begin to ponder about...

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An eclectic group of good reads...

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And Then It’s Spring  is an enchanting picture book written by Julie Fogliani and illustrated by Erin E. Stead. Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten!   is another charming read written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Do they have anything in common? Well they did both win the  2013 Ezra Jack Keats Award for New Writer and New Illustrator , which I spoke about in this post.   Let’s start with And Then It’s Spring. Too often picture books and children’s books are littered with horribly bad rhymes and verse. I’m almost allergic to it now. This book on the other hand reads like a soft, gentle ode to spring; so naturally lyrical. It is poetic in the most beautiful way. Combined with Erin Stead’s gorgeous wood block print illustrations, it’s a true winner. I was already a...

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