365 Days of Wonder

October 1, 2014

Gr 3-7-Palacio's masterpiece, Wonder (Knopf, 2012), has spawned a nonfiction companion featuring precepts, or words to live by, from Beecher Prep's beloved teacher Mr. Browne. The book opens with Mr. Browne discovering his love of precepts in a line from a book written by his namesake, the 17th-century English author Thomas Browne: "We carry within us the wonders we seek around us." What follows is an incredible collection of sayings, many that emphasize the importance of kindness. Presented in calendar format, including the month and day, though not the year, the 365 precepts are collected from great literary efforts, the annals of history, and the contributions of child readers of Wonder, chosen by Palacio herself. Each month concludes with a written offering from Mr. Browne, with intermittent input from Wonder's most important characters. These salutary compositions fill in missing details from the original story, provide an update for the characters, and expand on the meaning of the precepts. What seems by description a novelty item is in fact anything but. The quality of the selections, the closure obtained from the added Wonder details, and the thought-provoking opportunities for teachers, parents, and students make this a recommended purchase for libraries where Wonder is popular. Collections without a Wonder following may wish to forgo purchase, as readers unfamiliar with the fictional counterpart may not see the value in this work.-Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT

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