Everything Is Connected

One of Bala Kids's inaugural releases, this waggish picture book takes its title to heart, emphasizing readers' connection to an eclectic roundup of people, objects, and phenomena. The narrative, which features a varying rhyme scheme and a peppy rhythm, begins with kids' relationship with their own bodies, then spans out to illuminate their kinship with family and those they know ("You're connected to friends/ and to teachers at school,/ and even to people you/ don't think are cool") and don't know ("You're connected to people in Denver and Maine,/ in Paris and Baghdad, to strangers in Spain"). A menagerie of animals follows, culminating in a quirky conclusion: "But, you see, we're connected./ We all play a part./ In life we're the same,/ we're all blobfish at heart!" Without interrupting the upbeat vibe, Gruhl incorporates some less-than-rosy associations, noting that though people are connected to such positive human-made things as toys, books, and prayers, we also contend with bullies, lies, and pollution. In sync with the freewheeling text, Font's stylized pictures, many with stark black backdrops, usher this metaphysical story to an open-ended, empowering finale. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)

Gr 1-3--Gruhl depicts interconnectedness, starting off with how a person's body and organs are connected to create an individual. The text moves on to how family members, friends, and strangers form a community. The narrative scope is magnified as he zooms out and summarizes how animals, religions, and the universe are also all connected. More importantly, the author reminds readers that they are all connected to the good things in life (playgrounds and bicycles), but also to the bad things (chicken pox and bullies), not to mention lies, greed, and pollution. Though the message is good, it's unclear what the author intended the reader to gain with the meaning. The book simply ends with the reminder that everything is connected. Gruhl's rhyme scheme helps make the book flow and definitely relates to the message of connection; but the lines often don't read perfectly, as the rhyming scheme changes or is at times dropped entirely. And with the way the book is laid out, most readers won't realize they are reading a rhyming book until midway. Illustrations give the story a modern graphic novel feel. Font's artwork is minimal but fun, and the line that goes through each page from left to right is a subtle touch that reinforces the theme. VERDICT This thought-provoking title emphasizes the power of our connection to the universe and one another.--Peter Blenski, Hartland Public Library, WI