Review of The Little Book of Why

[Maduabuchi Okwiya N Eze]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Little Book of Why" by Catherine Ann Russell.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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It's the beautiful winter month of February, and Belle and her father, Ben, are strolling through the hills and valleys around their home. Belle is amazed by the wonders of nature—the winter snow, the pine trees, the birds, the frozen lake, and all that. Her little mind could neither contain the thrill nor process the immensity of nature's gifts around her. Apart from this, Belle is yet to make sense of some familial bonds, like why her father loves her. She has a lot of questions to ask, and she expects her father to get her well-informed.

I enjoyed reading about Ben and Belle's walk across the hills and valleys; it reminded me of my childhood days, during which I spent a great deal of time with my dad attending to his farm. He would be working, and I would be busy admiring the melodious songs of the birds flying in the air and laughing over the chase of animals trying to prey on weaker species. By late evening, when Dad must have been exhausted from work, he would take me to the nearby stream, and while he washed up, I would be throwing stones into the stream, thrilled by the ripples that formed. I can remember some of the "mysteries" that my young, impressionable mind sought to understand then.

The Little Book of Why is a children's story written by Catherine Ann Russell. The story is relatable as it captured the inquisitiveness typical of kids trying to make sense of the world around them, and I do think that some of the conversations between father and daughter (Ben and Belle) flowed naturally. Some kids, just like Belle, may occasionally pause their reading to ask their parents similar questions! Furthermore, I appreciated the great job Morgan Sooy did with the illustrations of this story; the pictorial representation of relevant scenes in the story should help give children a memorable reading experience. In addition, the language is simple, and the book is free of grammatical errors.

However, I disliked the disconnect that existed between father and daughter following the former's refusal to answer his daughter's questions. Again, making Ben as astonished as his baby girl didn't just make sense to me; he is an adult and should know better. I thought Ben's actions, especially his failure to explain the familial love parents give to their children, might leave some children reading the story frustrated and even discouraged from disclosing their concerns to their parents. Lastly, I suggest the author consider making the font size a bit bigger.

I am giving The Little Book of Why four out of five stars for its moving account of a father and daughter's walk through nature, the simple word choices, the apt illustrations, and the exceptional editing. It lost one star due to the concerns I expressed in the above paragraph. This story would be very much appreciated by readers between the ages of five and seven. Kids under five would surely enjoy listening to it.

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The Little Book of Why
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[RutvikPatel]

Catherine Ann Russell's "The Little Book of Why" captures the inquisitiveness of children as they seek to understand the world around them. The story's relatability and charming illustrations by Morgan Sooy create a memorable reading experience for young readers. However, the disconnect between the father and daughter and the font size could be improved. Recommended for ages five to seven.