'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Friday 30 December 2016

Review: The Curious Guide to Things That Aren’t

This is a gorgeous book which, as the title says, is about things that 'aren’t'. That’s not to say they are things that don’t exist, because they absolutely do. It’s about things you can’t touch, smell, see, or contain.

The Curious Guide to Things That Aren’t is set out in alphabetical order with one thing for each letter of the alphabet. Each is introduced with clues like: it can make a liquid turn into a solid; when astronauts are up in space they don’t feel it at all; and it only has four letters, but is the most powerful force in the world.
The clues come in the form of riddles, and the 'things that aren’t' include concepts like: echo, gravity, memory, quiet, yesterday, and 21 other things. After reading the riddle, and hopefully solving it, turn the page and you’ll see the answer as well as an explanation of it.

Each of the riddles and concepts is accompanied by cartoon-like illustrations in black, white and orange (fluoro orange), and it all combines to make a wholly enjoyable and accessible book.

The Curious Guide to Things That Aren’t is a book that could keep young readers occupied on rainy days or long trips in the car, and it should certainly make them think about the world around them in a different way.

Title: The Curious Guide to Things That Aren’t 
Author: John D Fixx and James F Fixx 
Illustrator: Abby Carter
Publisher: Quarto, $17.99  
Publication Date: November 2016
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781633221765
For ages: 6 - 8 years
Type: Non-fiction