Boxitects

October 15, 2019
Meg stands out as a brilliant boxitect--until Simone comes along. Meg makes all sorts of things out of boxes: "tiny houses, tall towers, twisty tunnels," and inventions no one else had seen before. When Meg goes to Maker School, she finds "blanketeers, spaghetti-tects, tin-foilers, and egg-cartoners," but as the first boxitect in class, she feels special. But then Simone comes along. She's brilliant and creative like Meg--and a boxitect, just like Meg. Instead of hitting it off, the two are immediate rivals, trading snide remarks and criticizing each other's work. When the school competition rolls around and students have to work in teams, the boxitect team is the one that is not going smoothly. Meg and Simone split up the materials and compete with each other to make the better half. But when their infighting proves disastrous, the pair quickly learns to work together, gaining skills and friendship. The story arc contains just enough suspense to keep readers interested, and the humorous text is engaging. Smith's cartoon illustrations are a combination of double-page spreads, full-page scenes, and smaller vignettes that use a variety of shapes, patterns, and contrasting colors for a lively and creative maker's world. Meg's brown skin and puffy hair and Simone's Asian presentation put this in the growing and necessary category of picture books that feature modern diverse characters doing everyday things. Personality and a developmental message successfully combine for STEAM fun. (Picture book. 3-8)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2019
Grades K-3 For young Meg, making things from boxes is fun and something she's good at, whether its houses, towers, or more fanciful constructions. And when Mom enrolls her in Maker School, Meg's happy she's the only boxitect among 'blanketeers, spaghetti-tects, tin-foilers and others. That is, until Simone, another talented boxitect, arrives. Soon, Simone's suggesting Meg's work could be a little straighter and less boring, causing Meg to point out Simone's could be sturdier, and much prettier. Tensions escalate when they're paired for school's Maker Match, and when they argue so much they end up building separate but connected constructions, it doesn't go well for either. Eventually, putting their heads together sparks inspiration and fosters positive outcomes?including friendship. Accompanied by lively, descriptive prose, the vibrant, cartoon illustrations fill pages with the kids' endeavors, from buildings to robots to a hyperbolically oversize plane, all of which incorporate whimsical details. Touching on STEAM-related elements, this offers a supportive, upbeat approach to encouraging imagination and learning, not to mention the rewards of creativity and collaboration.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)