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WORK TITLE: Talking Rocks and Minerals
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WEBSITE: https://www.paigetowler.com/
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Kirkus Reviews May 1, 2020, review of Towler, Paige: YOGA ANIMALS.
Children’s Bookwatch June, 2020. , “Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses.”.
Booklist vol. 119 no. 12 Feb. 15, 2023, McBroom, Kathleen. , “How It Happened! Union Square Kids. Gr. 4-8. (2 titles).”.
Kirkus Reviews Mar. 1, 2023, , “Towler, Paige: HOW IT HAPPENED! GUM.”.
Booklist vol. 120 no. 5-6 Nov. 1, 2023, McBroom, Kathleen. , “Pizza: The Cool Stories and Facts behind Every Slice.”. p. 58.
School Library Journal vol. 69 no. 12 Dec., 2023. Anderson, Kristin J. , “TOWLER, Paige. How It Happened! Pizza: The Cool Stories and Facts Behind Every Slice.”.
Children’s Bookwatch Apr., 2024. , “Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!”.
Kirkus Reviews Apr. 15, 2025, , “Towler, Paige: TALKING ROCKS AND MINERALS.”.
Booklist vol. 121 no. 21 July, 2025. McBroom, Kathleen. , “Talking Rocks and Minerals: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology.”. p. 64.
Paige Towler is a children’s author and editor.
With more than a decade’s experience in the publishing industry, she is the author of 25+ children’s books with publishers such as National Geographic Kids, Penguin Random House, Highlights, Scholastic, Sleeping Bear Press, and more.
Paige Towler is a children's book author who lives in Washington, D.C. Her books include MYSTERIOUS, MARVELOUS OCTOPUS!, HOW IT HAPPENED: PIZZA, YOGA ANIMALS, and more. Her poetry has appeared in anthologies such as HEY BABY! and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS NATURE POETRY. She has written books for National Geographic, National Geographic Kids, Scholastic, Highlights, and more.
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Paige Towler and Matthew Carlson
Paige Towler is a is a children’s author and editor who lives in Washington, D.C..
Photo of Author Paige Towler.
With more than a decade’s experience in the publishing industry, she is the author of 25+ children’s books with publishers such as National Geographic Kids, Penguin Random House, Highlights, Scholastic, Sleeping Bear Press, and more. children's book author She has written books for National Geographic, National Geographic Kids, Scholastic, Highlights, and more.
Collage of the covers of six of Paige's books and two poetry anthologies.
Paige’s books include Mindful Nature: Connecting with Our Great Green World (2025), Baby Bat Bedtime co-authored with Smithsonian Bat Lab, illustrated by Gavin Scott (2024), Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus! (2024), How It Happened: Pizza (2023), Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses (2020), and more. Her poetry has appeared in anthologies such as National Geographic’s The Poetry of Us (2018) and Book of Nature Poetry (2015).
Matthew Carlson is an illustrator, game designer, and graphic designer in Northern California.
Photo of illustrator Matthew Carlson.
He studied art and English literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He's illustrated projects for Robert Mondavi Wines, Facebook, and Twitter, and is currently the director of UX Design for Education, Fonts, and Drawing & Painting at Adobe. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Matthew now lives in Marin, California, with his partner, two kids, two dogs, and a growing collection of rocks.
This is Matthew’s debur picture book.
Their new picture book, Talking Rocks and Minerals: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology, releases July 1st.
Welcome Paige and Matthew, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about yourselves and your newest book.
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate?)
PAIGE - I’ve enjoyed writing since I was a kid—I was lucky to have lots of family members and teachers encourage me! Now, I write kids’ books for a living. Most days I work from my home office, where I keep lots of fun pieces of inspiration. I have a giant robotic triceratops in there, tons of comic books, and really cool wallpaper with flying cats on it. I also have some trilobite fossils that were fun for inspiration while writing about rocks! I love working on anything weird, gross, or scary—and I love puns.
MATTHEW - During the day I work as a design director, on the drawing & painting, fonts and education team at Adobe. I illustrate at night, and in the early morning, sometimes in my tiny home office at the top of the stairs, sometimes at the dining room table and sometimes at the cafe with my sketchbook and iPad.
I've been illustrating for about 25 years, mostly on commercial projects, wine labels and packaging, and more recently on my own game, WanderSquares. Talking Rocks and Minerals is my first (and favorite) children’s book.
It is so fun to "meet" you both! Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?
Book cover - Rotweiler dog sitting favcing the reader with his tongue lolling.
PAIGE - There are so many amazing authors in the world! I especially loved Alexandra Day, who did the Good Dog, Carl series, and anything by Maira Kalman or William Joyce. When I got a little older, I loved scary stories by R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike.
Book cover - Two moomins rest on clouds.
MATTHEW - I loved the Moomintroll series by Tove Jansson, for the whimsical stories and the illustrations. And of course I loved Dr. Seuss, especially On Beyond Zebra and McElligot’s Pool. I loved thinking about imaginary creatures and all the strange environments they might live in.
I adore the Good Dog, Carl series and actually got to meet Alexandra & Carl at my library years ago. And thanks Matthew for a series to explore! Paige, what was the inspiration or spark of interest for Talking Rocks and Minerals: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology?
Book cover - Granite, Amethyst, & Marble (with eyes and eyebrows) stand in front of a pebble carrying a notepad & pencil.
PAIGE - The idea for this book actually came from Matthew’s illustrations and a group called WonderLab Group! I was really excited when they asked if I wanted to come on board as the author because Matthew’s illustrations are so fantastic—and, of course, rocks are pretty cool.
That's a more unusual way for picture books to start. But it's so cool! Matthew, what about the Talking Rocks and Minerals manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
Title Page - a pebble, with a notebook and pencil, strides past realistic images of an amethyst, pyrite, and an ammonite fossil
MATTHEW - Pretty early in the process we decided that we needed a narrator to bring us from rock to rock. We called our hero Pebble, the Rock Reporter, and I liked how Paige crafted the story around her journey. I loved all the facts that Paige packed into the manuscript and how she turned each spread into a mini adventure.
I think WonderLab did a great job pairing the two of you. What is a (or the most) fun or unusual place where you’ve written a manuscript or created an illustration?
PAIGE - Most days I’m in my office or snuggled with my dog, Calbee, on the couch, but a couple of times I’ve needed to make a deadline while traveling. So, once I wrote a manuscript by a pool at a hotel in Nashville, and another time I wrote overlooking the canals in Venice, Italy!
MATTHEW - I did a lot of early sketches in a beach house near Bodega Bay. Every day different rocks would wash up on the shore and there were some amazing cliffs and rocks out in the water. I would sketch rocks or snap pictures and bring them straight into my drawings at night.
Oh my gosh, writing along the canals in Vencie would be heavenly! Matthew, that sounds equally amazing. Paige, what was the toughest part of writing Talking Rocks and Minerals? What was the most fun?
PAIGE - The toughest part was definitely probably trying to contain a lot of science in just a few words. One of the best parts was writing the puns … I’m really fond of the alien space rocks that “come in pieces.”
You definitely paced in the puns. Matthew, what’s the hardest part of illustrating picture books? What was the toughest part of illustrating Talking Rocks and Minerals? What was the most fun?
MATTHEW - The hardest thing about illustrating Talking Rocks and Minerals was making sure we were telling scientifically accurate stories in a fun and exciting way. We worked pretty hard on the layout and rhythm of each spread, and sometimes Paige would tune and adjust the manuscript to make the artwork and the visual story flow. We had a great designer on the project as well, Rachel Hamm Plett, who helped layout the facts and information.
The most fun part was working with Paige, Rachel, and the Wonderlab team to scheme out the visual stories and imagine a few big surprises.
I do love all the facts and science you have included. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of Talking Rocks and Minerals?
PAIGE - Probably about 18 months from my end, from the very first draft to the book coming out on July 1st. Books are a huge team effort, and there is a lot that happens behind the scenes. We worked with WonderLab Group, a really wonderful designer named Rachael Hamm Plett, fact checkers, copy editors, and more!
MATTHEW - Paige captured the timeline! There was a very busy 9 months in the middle when we were working through the layouts and blocking out the text, then approving spread by spread so I could move on to creating final illustrations.
WOW! That's speedy for a picture book. Not to mention a science-based informational fiction picture book. Paige, did anything surprise or amaze you when you first got to see Matthew’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?
Internal spread = on the left, Pebble, wearing a prospector's hat talks to Pyrite, wearing a mask. On the right, upper image is a man looking into hills. Middle image is man's hands over a stream as he pans for gold. Bottom image, Pyrite and Pebble exchange puns.
Text © Paige Towler, 2025. Image © Matthew Carlson, 2025.
PAIGE - I was always delighted to see the little details that Matthew gave Pebble, whether Pebble is holding a magnifying glass or a hard hat. I love them all, but I think my favorite spread is the feature on pyrite! I’m from California so I love Gold Rush history, and seeing Pebble with an old-timey prospector’s hat delighted me.
It is a great series of spreads! Matthew, is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Or perhaps is your favorite spread?
Internal image - on the left, Pebble talking to a dinosaur fossil in a rock. Upper left, a collection of fossilized bones. Upper right, a leaf imprint fossil. Lower left, a foot print fossil. Lower right, dinosaur fossil grimaces at Pebbles pun.
Text © Paige Towler, 2025. Image © Matthew Carlson, 2025.
MATTHEW - I love the spread when Amethyst is revealed, from deep inside a Geode. It was one of the first concepts developed, full of beauty, volcanoes and hardening lava bubbles! And I also loved the fossil spread where I make dinosaur bones cringe at one of Paige’s many puns.
Okay, the readers will have to go look for the amethyst spread - I adore the idea of a dinosaur fossil cringing at a pun! Is there anything from your research that you just couldn’t fit into the text or back matter?
PAIGE - Absolutely—there are so many rocks in the world, this is just the start! One tidbit we weren’t really able to get into is that the process of erosion (that is, the wearing away of something through factors like wind, rain, and more) can create some really awesome rock formations in the world that look like tall towers or wacky natural sculptures. I definitely encourage any rockhounds to use this book as a starting place and then keep learning!
MATTHEW - I had some wonderful sketches of rock structures from around the world to illustrate the effects of wind and erosion that had to be left out. They were lovely, but they weren’t telling that personal rock-to-rock story.
Am I sensing a sequel in the works? What's something you want your readers to know about Talking Rocks and Minerals?
PAIGE - This book gives you the scoop on rocks … from the rocks themselves! You’ll find tons of punny rocks who are excited to introduce themselves and tell you all about how they formed.
MATTHEW - That rocks are all around us and they are really, really old. And they are constantly changing. I learned that from every rock and gem story in the book, and from illustrating the Rock Cycle!
I think kids (and adults) are going to love this book. Matthew, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Talking Rocks and Minerals? If so, could you share one or more with us?
Photo of Ring Mountain, CA with a grassy hillside full of yellow wildflowers, scattered large rocks, a lone tree on the upper left and a trail winding into the distance on the upper right.
Ring Mountain Preserve, Marin County Park, CA
MATTHEW - The opening spread where we meet Pebble for the first time takes place on Ring Mountain, a big rock-filled preserve in Marin, California. The rocks, grasses and poppies are what I see on my hikes!
I had fun looking through photos of Ring Mountain Preserve; it is a beautiful area. Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a hint or tidbit with us?
Book cover- five penguins staning on ice with the flippers spread out in front of a celebratory background with curly streamers and multi-color confetti.
PAIGE - This year, I have a wonderful, wintry picture book on penguins coming out late fall called Penguin Palooza. And then next year there should be some spooky projects on the horizon! And, of course, there may be some other talking characters coming up in the Talking Rocks series … !
MATTHEW - We just might be working on another book in our Talking Series, and I'm designing and illustrating my next tabletop game.
Well then we might just have to keep our eyes open for a sequel. Good luck! Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
Photo of Topanga State Park, CA.
Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025
PAIGE - I grew up right next to Topanga State Park in California. I loved the scents of sage and dry brush and all the small wildflowers. I also love Arches and Bryce Canyon is Utah: those parks have some of the coolest rock formations I’ve ever seen!
Photo of a grove of redwood trees, with the bas of a giant one on the left.
Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025
MATTHEW - Humboldt Redwood State Park is one of my favorites. Walking through ancient forests and seeing trees bigger than you can imagine is pure magic. And the rangers are fantastic guides.
Thank you, Paige and Matthew, for sharing with us a bit about yourselves and your newest picture book.
Towler, Paige YOGA ANIMALS National Geographic Kids (Children's None) $16.99 5, 19 ISBN: 978-1-4263-3752-9
Uncluttered design and clear instructions mark this kid-friendly introduction to nine basic yoga poses.
Each double-page spread pairs National Geographic photos with a rhyming two-line verse, with action words set in display type. The high-quality photos are set within circles of bright contrasting colors. On the right-hand side of each spread, a child on a yoga mat (this photo outlined by an original mandala design) demonstrates a yoga pose inspired by the animal: “CURL like a cat! / STRETCH like a puppy! / ROAR like a lion! / TUCK like a bunny!” Four to six lines of instructional text in a smaller but still clear font guides readers into the posture and includes suggestions about when to breathe and how often to repeat the action or sustain the pose. A conversational foreword by yoga teacher Tara Stiles encourages children to “go with the flow” when trying the movements. Towler’s verses, including an introductory and closing stanza, speak directly to children’s interests: “Playful puppies run and fetch, / tumble, tussle, stop, and stretch.” Four pages of backmatter repeat on a smaller scale the photos of the animals that inspired the poses along with information about their behaviors and habitats, thumbnail photos of the five racially and gender diverse children modelling proper yoga technique, and the English and Sanskrit name of each asana.
Animals, action, and accurate information—packaged for kids. A winner. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Towler, Paige: YOGA ANIMALS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A622503116/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=270900f2. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses
Paige Towler
National Geographic Children's Books
c/o National Geographic Press
101 West 104th Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10025
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426337529, $16.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com
Many yoga poses are inspired by animals. "Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses" will inspire children ages 4-8 to get moving, practice mindfulness, or calm down after a long day as the learn to roar like a lion, arch like a kitten, and stretch like a cobra! Simple step-by-step instructions explain these and other kid-friendly yoga moves. Kids will get a kick out of the accompanying photos of animals that mimic each pose, and the inclusion of a fun poem is sure to delight the kids.
The foreword by Tara Stiles (founder of Strala Yoga), reminds us that we're never too young to start enjoying the health benefits of yoga and mindfulness. "Animal Yoga" is the perfect and thoroughly 'kid friendly' introduction to this ancient practice--and great for engaging (and quieting!) a class, reading aloud one-on-one, or helping restless little ones fall asleep at bedtime or naptime.
"Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses" is unique and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Children's Fitness & Exercise picture book collections.
Roar like a lion! Arch like a kitten! Stretch like a cobra!
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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"Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses." Children's Bookwatch, June 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A629320175/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=abbc44d0. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
How It Happened! Gum: The Cool Stories and Facts Behind Every Chew. By Paige Towler. Illus. by Dan Sipple. Apr. 2023. 192p. $18.99 (9781454944980). 664.
How It Happened! Sneakers: The Cool Stories and Facts Behind Every Pair. By Stephanie Warren Drimmer. Illus. by Dan Sipple. Apr. 2023. 192p. $18.99 (9781454944966). 685.3.
The How It Happened! series provides energetic, upbeat histories of everyday items that should be familiar to most kids. Pages are filled with eye-catching graphics, sidebars, photos, illustrations, and accessible text peppered with numerous exclamation points. Despite having different authors, both books feature the same bouncy style, inviting layout, and overall format, including four sections ("How It All Started," "How It Got Off the Ground," "How It Took Over the World," future applications) and brief chapters that cover technical details wrapped within social context and historic perspective. Gum explains that ancient people, including Neanderthals, enjoyed chomping on natural saps and resins, and traces the varieties of gum developed around the world using local ingredients and flavors. This title also explores chewing gum's multiple applications through time, from freshening breath to delivering medicine to helping athletes concentrate. Sneakers wanders a bit, starting out with the history of rubber before detailing the famous rivalry between Adidas and Puma, celebrity endorsements, and specialized applications (aerobics, skate boarding, streetball, Hip Hop). Both selections are broad in scope, touching on popular culture, familiar advertising slogans, and ways their products were initially promoted to women. Back matter includes detailed time lines, a glossary, and related activities--but (alas) no notes or bibliographies. Despite the lack of references, these attentiongetting titles will appeal to browsers and enrich STEAM collections. --Kathleen McBroom
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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McBroom, Kathleen. "How It Happened! Union Square Kids. Gr. 4-8. (2 titles)." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 12, 15 Feb. 2023, pp. 51+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A738954398/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8c84e48a. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Towler, Paige HOW IT HAPPENED! GUM Union Square Kids (Children's None) $18.99 4, 18 ISBN: 9781454944980
A lively look at the history of chewing gum.
Towler delivers an account of the long history of humans and gum, from birch bark tar found at a Stone Age site to the prized ancient Greek mastic gum from the island of Chios. Central American peoples collected sap called chicle from the sapodilla tree, while North American spruce gum inspired the first chewing gum to be manufactured and sold. Energetic graphic design incorporates swaths of bright gum-ball colors with dashes of bubble-gum pink along with plenty of photographs and whimsical cartoon illustrations (people depicted are racially diverse). Towler looks briefly at environmental and economic injustices committed in the harvesting of chicle in the first part of the 20th century. Chewing gum was sent to U.S. soldiers along with rations in both world wars, spreading the appeal throughout the world. The invention of bubble gum and the connection with comics and baseball cards cemented the popularity of chewing gum as entertainment. Towler examines the cultural context for chewing gum--including etiquette debates, health claims, and the use of racist and sexist stereotypes and slogans in advertising. Instructions for blowing gum bubbles and speculation about what future developments might be in store complete the picture. The wealth of intriguing information nicely pitched to middle-grade readers makes the lack of source notes or a bibliography regrettable.
A diverting look at the rest of the story for a familiar product. (timeline, glossary, index, image credits) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Towler, Paige: HOW IT HAPPENED! GUM." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A738705235/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8348ee78. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Pizza: The Cool Stories and Facts behind Every Slice. By Paige Towler. Illus. by Dan Sipple. Nov. 2023. 192p. Union Square Kids, $18.99 (9781454945000). Gr. 3-6.641.82.
This enticing book uses ever-popular, seemingly omnipresent pizza to reinforce all kinds of curriculum concepts. There's history (breadcrumbs go back 14,000 years, tomatoes date from ancient South American civilizations), social studies (foods traveled around the world, various cultures have made pizza their own), science (yeast, enzymes), technology (ovens, fast food, drones), entrepreneurship (chefs, chains, rivalries), culinary arts (dough, toppings), and plenty of pop culture (Margherita pizzas are named in honor of a popular Italian queen, Pizza Hut makes deliveries to the International Space Station). All of this information is presented more or less chronologically in brief chapters with sentences that employ straightforward and engaging language. Colorful, dramatic illustrations (graphics, drawings, photographs, quotations, sidebars, lists, random facts) splash across pages, creating busy but not overwhelming spreads. Back matter includes a glossary, suggestions for pizza-themed art activities (jewelry, gear, Halloween costumes), and an eight-page pizza time line. There's a surprising paucity of publications devoted solely to the wonders of pizza, though readers hungry for more facts can check out Jan Thornhill's Who Wants Pizza? (2010), while the whimsically inclined can reach for Kyle Scheele and Andy J. Pizzas A Pizza with Everything on It (2021). This current offering serves as a delectable addition for both school and public library collections.--Kathleen McBroom
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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McBroom, Kathleen. "Pizza: The Cool Stories and Facts behind Every Slice." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 5-6, 1 Nov. 2023, p. 58. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A774988437/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a1ab3586. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
* TOWLER, Paige. How It Happened! Pizza: The Cool Stories and Facts Behind Every Slice. 192p. (How It Happened!). Union Square & Co. Nov. 2023. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781454945000.
Gr 3-6--For readers who have bitten into a slice of their favorite pizza and considered how lucky they were to have this sublime food in their lives, here are the cool facts about pizza, the origins of its ingredients, and how it became popular all around the world. Every culture has their own take on a flatbread delicacy, and some countries have even put their own spin on pizza toppings. Towler encourages readers to come up with their own spin on pizza and to create pizza art. This book is incredibly eye-appealing, with its vibrant colors (evocative of the 1990s) and photographs of delicious pizza. A table of contents, glossary, and index are included. There is also a pizza time line showing its evolution. Some pages feature questions to encourage readers to think critically about pizza such as, "Is pizza a sandwich?" Quotations from celebrities about pizza and interesting pizza facts are interspersed within each chapter. This is a very well-researched text about the origins of this common food, and will be a new favorite of anyone who loves pizza. VERDICT A thorough and compelling book about a food that everyone loves. Highly recommended.--Kristin J. Anderson
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Anderson, Kristin J. "TOWLER, Paige. How It Happened! Pizza: The Cool Stories and Facts Behind Every Slice." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 12, Dec. 2023, pp. 102+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779118745/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d9012039. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!
Paige Towler, author
Sy Montgomery, photographer
National Geographic Kids
c/o National Geographic Press
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426376672, $17.99, HC, 48pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Marvelous-Octopus-Paige-Towler/dp/1426376677
Synopsis: "Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!" is playful and informative introduction for young readers ages 5-8 to the fascinating world of octopuses--big and small, ink-squirting and shape-shifting, all found all around the planet oceans and seas.
With their super smarts and awe-inspiring abilities, octopuses have captivated human imaginations. "Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!" is a pictorially enriched celebration of all things weird and wonderful about these beloved creatures - - including their eight arms, nine brains, and one-of-a-kind personalities.
Author Paige Towler's lyrical poetic commentary is paired with informational sidebar, making "Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!" ideal as a charming bedtime read or for pouring over for in-depth octopus info. Gorgeous photos of real octopuses gives young readers up-close and vivid images of the sensational cephalopods ranging from the utterly adorable Dumbo octopus to the stunning blue-ringed octopus--along with their incredible habitats and body parts.
Critique: Fascinating, informative, fun, and featuring an informative Foreword by naturalist Sy Montgomery "Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!" from National Geographic Kids is unreservedly recommended as a welcome and prized addition to elementary school and community library Marine Wildlife & Oceanography/Zoology picture book collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists for children.
Editorial Note #1: Paige Towler writes poetry and books, including Girls Can! and Yoga Animals, and was a children's book editor at National Geographic Kids for five years.
Editorial Note #2: Sy Montgomery is a naturalist and the beloved author of the National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus, the memoir The Good Good Pig, and several other nonfiction works.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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"Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!" Children's Bookwatch, Apr. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793839125/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cccc160d. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Towler, Paige TALKING ROCKS AND MINERALS Grosset & Dunlap (Children's None) $16.99 7, 1 ISBN: 9780593890950
In puntastic profusion, rocks and minerals chip in to introduce themselves: "Gneiss to meet you."
As the accurately named tour guide Pebble dishes up commentary and at least some of the wordplay ("I'll never take you for GRANITE, buddy"), select rock stars from coal to marble describe their igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic origins as a prelude to glimpses of a glittering gallery of gems and a jumble of cameos from special guests: pyrite, fossils, and space rocks. Along the way, a look at the rock cycle shows how the three types of rock can transform into one another, and a pair of geodes offer readers a look at the "secrets" they conceal: gorgeous crystals. Carlson seamlessly shuffles photos and painted images together for the illustrations, tacking a smile and googly eyes onto Pebble and many specimens but accurately capturing their broad range of typical colors and surface textures. "Of course, there are always more rocks to discover!" Towler concludes, and to help readers "keep rocking on," she finishes up with sources and advice for prospective rock hounds, plus a quick testimonial from a working scientist.
A geo-logical approach to discovering how rocks rock. (glossary)(Informational picture book. 7-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Towler, Paige: TALKING ROCKS AND MINERALS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A835106397/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=79d0f4d1. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Talking Rocks and Minerals: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology. By Paige Towler. Illus. by Matthew Carlson. July 2025. 32p. Grosset & Dunlap, $16.99 (9780593890950). PreS-Gr. 3. 552.
The narrator of this colorful and energetic work is Pebble, a diminutive purple stone who interviews and introduces various denizens of the rock world. First up are igneous rocks, followed by sedimentary, geodes (both igneous and sedimentary), metamorphic, various gems (diamond, emerald, ruby), minerals (amethyst, pyrite, gold), fossils, and asteroids. Physical traits emerge as personalities. Marble, a metamorphic rock that morphs over time, keeps changing its mind about being interviewed; diamond likes to hide because of its rarity. The narrative is filled with puns ("never take obsidian for granite"; "meteorites come in pieces"), and the cartoon illustrations, flowcharts, and diagrams are entertaining and aptly support concepts. Facts, brief explanations, and quips spill across pages in a pleasing and logical progression. Back matter includes a glossary, list of resources, and suggestions for becoming a rock hound--start a written or photographic journal, join a club, get a rock tumbling kit--or just using this cheerful introduction to whet kids' perennial interest. This makes a fun addition for school and public collections.--Kathleen McBroom
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McBroom, Kathleen. "Talking Rocks and Minerals: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology." Booklist, vol. 121, no. 21, July 2025, p. 64. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A852212728/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3c68a2c8. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.