How Do I Wonder?

Davy and Rodriguez spotlight wonder with this rhyming picture book about the portable power of contemplation: “Brains are like magic, they make their own joy./ They really don’t need lights, screens, or toys.” Singsong, sometimes on-the-nose lines applaud the brain’s capacity to amuse through interest and observation (“Curiosity is like/ a magical door/ that leads to/ a land where you’ll/ never be bored”). Faithfully visualizing the speaker’s various reflections in oversize thought bubbles, warm-toned artwork and querying text emphasize inquisitiveness. On one page, lines consider dinosaurs’ expressions (“Did dinosaurs know how to smile? To frown?/ How could you tell they were happy or down?”), while another features a tree blooming with candy (“If I plant a treat,/ will a candy tree grow?”) and a rainbow-shelled snail observing a turtle (“Do snails look at turtles and think they are slow?”). The cumulative result is a picture of boredom-busting curiosity in action. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)