readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
What a great book to share with young readers - I like that Albie is different from his peers and that doesn't change. This reflects what we see in classrooms and schools and although the kids perspective may not change, they can appreciate what Albie creates.
heisereads's review against another edition
5.0
A fabulous story in rhyming verse about Albie, a tinkerer and thinker, who is so focused on his inventions that he doesn't often notice what's happening with the other kids in his class or how his actions affect them. Luckily, one of the girls in his class pays attention and notices Albie and what he's working on, leading to a revelation at the end.
This will be a fantastic picture book to read with kids to help build empathy and understanding of all personalities.
ETA: The final version is bright and colorful and so fun! *review from an early non-color manuscript print out - eager to see the final version as the illustrations look to be adorable!
This will be a fantastic picture book to read with kids to help build empathy and understanding of all personalities.
ETA: The final version is bright and colorful and so fun! *review from an early non-color manuscript print out - eager to see the final version as the illustrations look to be adorable!
backonthealex's review against another edition
3.0
Albie Newton is an exceptionally smart kid who decides he will make friends in his new class after his family moves to Littleton. But for all his intelligence, Albie lacks the ability to read social cues and is unaware of his classmates distress when he goes his own way during class. While they do more age appropriate activities, for example, while they take a spelling quiz, Albie is writing a sonnet, or during arts and crafts, Albie takes all the glue without asking. But what's he making with all the stuff he's collected without permission? When the class decides to confront Albie, only Shirley sticks up for him and suggests seeing what he has been working on. When they see the Spaceship/Time Machine he's made for them, all is forgiven as they visit people and things from the past. Told in rhyme, with cartoonishly amusing, colorful illustrations, this is a story that will open some questions about Albie's behavior in the classroom, behavior that you may be surprised to learn that young kids, including Kindergartners, have some very definite ideas about. I usually like books by Josh Funk, but I did not find Albie to be a very likable character, nor did my kids. He reminded me too much a self-centered Sheldon Cooper.
librarianryan's review against another edition
5.0
Josh Funk is slowly becoming a new favorite author. I have loved all of his books and this is no exception. The rhymes work, the cadence works, and the story is great. This story is about Albie Newton who is always questioning and tinkering. When he starts at a new school he wants to make friends with his classmates so he makes them something special. He just needs to remember to pay attention to his classmates from time to time.
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