We, the Curious Ones

An aesthetically beautiful book.

An afterword offers a brief history of early non-Western civilizations and influential scientists who shaped what we know about the universe today.

Tackling a wide-ranging history of thought about the universe, Bauer describes the transformation of stories that humans--"the curious ones"--tell about their surroundings. Once describing a flat world that rested on a turtle, humans' tales change after those "who dare challenge/ even the stories/ we love" ask if the world might be not flat, but round. As generations pass, others ask whether the earth might revolve around the sun, leading to seemingly limitless concepts ("the universe is expanding"). Glittering with stars and pulsing with color and light, photographed dioramas constructed by married team Hari & Deepti convey a sense of limitless space that dwarfs the stylized, shadowy human figures who see themselves in constellations. The collaborators bring sweep and majesty to the concept of paradigmatic change, communicating the challenge and excitement in revolutionary new ways of thinking and telling. An afterword discusses the book's roots in the idea of quantum gravity. Ages 6-9. (Nov.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 1-4--Written in beautiful lyrical poetry, award-winning author Bauer presents a tale of human endeavor and history. This picture book tells the story of how the curiosity, questioning, and struggle of human beings has led to discovery and change. She begins with, "Birds sing. Bees dance. Wolves howl, 'I am here! I am here!' But we are the ones who tell stories." These wonderful words are aptly paired with shimmering colors and intricate cut-paper artwork. This thought-provoking book takes readers on the journey from early mythology to modern science and ponders the symbiotic relationship between science and story. The poems come full circle, ending with, "Dogs bow. Prairie dogs kiss. Fireflies flash, 'Come to Me! Come to Me!' Trees talk to one another underground. And we, the curious ones, the ones who discover, tell stories." When shared with young readers, these poems will spark discussion about the power of story and our part in the universe. Students will be encouraged to look at stories with new eyes, ask questions, and engage in thoughtful discussion that promotes higher level thinking skills. Somewhat reminiscent of the questioning response evoked in Oliver Jeffers's Here We Are, Jon J Muth's The Three Questions, and Kobi Yamada's Noticing, this work might also be paired with Rebecca Lewis-Oakes's STEAM title Mythical Science. A comprehensive afterword explores how early folktales described the universe and more. VERDICT A book of poems that asks philosophical questions to provoke thought, encourage curiosity, and inspire young readers with a new appreciation and understanding about the world around them.--Carole Phillips

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Glittering with stars and pulsing with color and light, photographed dioramas constructed by married team Hari & Deepti convey a sense of limitless space. . . The collaborators bring sweep and majesty to the concept of paradigmatic change, communicating the challenge and excitement in revolutionary new ways of thinking and telling.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The gorgeous, dreamy, watercolorlike artwork—paper dioramas backlit and photographed—provides a celestial vibe to the background. . . An aesthetically beautiful book.
—Kirkus Reviews

Written in beautiful lyrical poetry, award-winning author Bauer presents a tale of human endeavor and history. . . . Students will be encouraged to look at stories with new eyes, ask questions, and engage in thoughtful discussion that promotes higher level thinking skills. . . . A book of poems that asks philosophical questions to provoke thought, encourage curiosity, and inspire young readers with a new appreciation and understanding about the world around them.
—School Library Journal

In this companion to her Coretta Scott King Award-winning The Stuff of Stars (2018), Bauer considers the intersection of science and story. . . . The cerebral, deceptively simple picture book for readers of all ages continues with beliefs about the earth, the sun, and the expanding universe; how these beliefs evolved over time; and how people continue to question them. . . ethereal.
—Booklist

A provocative exploration of human existence is skillfully captured in Bauer's quiet but firm text, compelling readers forward and sparking appropriate curiosity while recognizing the flaws in any sense of certainty. . . . Ethereal illustrations are a unique blend of hand cut paper dioramas backlit and photographed; they feel pensive but dynamic, with silhouettes of humans and animals dwarfed by a sky swirling with celestial features in soft hues.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

With beautiful words and art, We, the Curious Ones pulls us into the endless loop of studying the worlds around us, telling stories about what we've seen, and asking the provocative questions that lead to further studies and further stories. It is a book to savor with your young ones, helping them appreciate that we scientists, whether paid or not, thrive on the curiosity that drives our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
—Lawrence Rudnick, professor emeritus, University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy