The Bedtime Book of Incredible Questions

Starred review from July 1, 2023

K-Gr 4-When is the best time to think of every question in the universe? Bedtime, of course! Thomas has all of the answers, or as she is quick to explain, at least the very best guesses based on current science. Questions are wide-ranging, from "Does yellow look the same to me as it does to you?" to "Do animals have imaginations?" and-sure to be a parent favorite-"Why do kids need to go to bed so early?" Each kid-friendly question is explained in clear, humorous language; it's neither dumbed down nor inflated beyond what is currently known. Cushley fills the pages with colorful, diverse characters and spot drawings that will delight children as much as the book's questions will. VERDICT Booktalk this one so that it finds its audience; it's highly recommended for purchase.-Hillary Perelyubskiy

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Starred review from September 1, 2023
Not-so-short answers to over 70 random questions about life and the universe. Science is all about asking questions, Thomas writes, and most of those posed here are the sort that "are still bamboozling biologists, confusing chemists, and making physicists feel perplexed." Some may seem to be no-brainers, but the answer to, for instance, "Are cats liquid or solid?" proves to be "both," according to strict definitions of the two terms. "Why do we get only one birthday a year?" launches a lively discussion of astronomical cycles and birthday celebrations in ancient Rome. Topics range from soap bubble dynamics and the "speed of dark" to our "squidgy and flexible" human genome, and children won't be the only readers surprised by some of the revelations dished up: No, we don't actually know what gives airplanes lift, why plants are green, or why we yawn...and petrichor, the fresh smell of rain, actually comes from an oil called geosmin that's exuded by soil microbes. An invitation to ponder the very nature of reality in response to "How do I know I'm not dreaming right now?" makes clear that the author doesn't shy away from big questions, either. Most of the human figures in Cushley's fanciful, stylized illustrations are children, and most are brown-skinned. Stimulating queries for bed, or any other, time. (Nonfiction. 8-10)

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October 20, 2023
Grades 2-5 "Science isn't about knowing lots of facts. . . . Science is about asking questions." This Q&A compilation taps into children's natural curiosity and affinity for asking questions. Some of the featured queries (""How does gravity work?"") are immediately analytical, and some related quandaries (""Why can't I just eat my favorite foods?""; ""How do soft foods make bones strong?"") are grouped together for continuity. What makes this collection especially fun, however, are the musings that are existential (""Why am I me and not someone else?"") and seemingly silly (""Could I swim in ice cream?""). In each case, the science concepts introduced are conversationally and effectively explained. Captions, boxed texts, and speech bubbles offer additional information while cartoonish illustrations and a mix of realistic and amusing situations extend the book's levity. At the heart of each Q&A is encouragement to keep asking questions. For instance, ""what's the opposite of a spider?"" Could it be an animal with eight arms? Bedtime might not be the best time, however, to encourage such active thinking!

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