Even Steven: A Book About Sharing
byh Carrie Finison
Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
G.P. Putnam's Sons
an imprint of Penguin Random House
2026
32 pages
ISBN: 9870583859001
Steven wants everything even. Everything! But some things can't be split up. What's Steven going to do about that? If things are not even, is it fair?
Even Steven is a humorous book sure to make kids giggle as Steven tries to divide the slide on the playground or divide a nickel. Some things can't be separated. Friends tell Steven sharing is a great way to make things fair and even. Taking turns is fun and fair. Steven learns sharing and taking turns is actually better than fair and even, it's fun! This book must be read aloud with a group of young children. They will want to offer their own ideas about things that can be shared like walkie-talkies, and things that should not be shared like a toothbrush.
Clever writing expertly teaches kids about what is fair and what is even while entertaining them. Illustrations are fun and funny with one caveat below....
The last illustration is bothersome to this career librarian. Once again, an artist has captured the librarian as a frumpy, older white woman wearing the ubiquitous librarian look: a cardigan, old lady pants, ugly shoes and wearing glasses, of course. It would be nice to see a male librarian represented.
End pages are a pretty shade of blue, but it's a missed opportunity on the part of the design/publishing team. Funny illustrations tied to the story would put this book over the top.
Highly recommended grades pre-K to 3.
No comments:
Post a Comment