We're All Wonders

I love Wonder, so I was excited to see how they would translate it for a younger audience. It worked really well, I thought - it carried the themes of the original book, the artwork is beautiful, and overall it's a great picture book.

4★
Lovely idea to introduce the boy whose story was told for somewhat older readers in the author’s earlier book "Wonder".

Auggie is not called by name here, but WE know who he is. Well, we who are familiar with the first book do. This is a very simple prequel.

He’s only a little fellow here, which will help young children identify with his story. It will also help parents and teachers show kids that he likes lots of ordinary things that they like. He rides a bike and kicks a ball.

The artwork is based on the imaginative cover of the original book, and our little fellow says other kids make fun of him because:

"I just don't look ordinary. I don't look like other kids."

[I have included an illustration in my Goodreads review.]

But his mother says he’s a wonder, and Daisy, his beloved dog, thinks he’s a wonder, too! He imagines flying off in a rocket with Daisy, and the illustrations of him in space and visiting Pluto and some “old friends” who are certainly don't look ordinary either, except to each other.

He looks back at earth, and when he goes back, he hopes everyone can change the way they see.

“If they do, they’ll see that I’m a wonder.

And they’ll see that they are wonders, too.

We’re all wonders.”

[I have included an illustration in my Goodreads review that says: "Look with kindness and you will always find wonder."]

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Puffin for the copy for review from which I've selected a couple of illustrations.