{"id":38925,"date":"2021-02-27T23:28:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T03:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38925"},"modified":"2021-02-27T23:28:04","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T03:28:04","slug":"review-of-milo-imagines-the-world-by-matt-de-la-pena-and-christian-robinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38925","title":{"rendered":"Review of Milo Imagines the World, by Matt de la Pe\u00f1a and Christian Robinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Milo Imagines the World<\/em><\/p>\n

by Matt de la Pe\u00f1a
\npictures by Christian Robinson<\/p>\n

G. P. Putnam\u2019s Sons, 2021. 40 pages.
\nReview written February 6, 2021, from a library book
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Milo Imagines the World<\/em> reminds me of the book by these collaborators that won the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor, Last Stop on Market Street<\/em>, because it\u2019s also about a boy taking public transportation.<\/p>\n

This time it\u2019s the subway. And the picture in the subway station puts me right there with Milo and his older sister, who is looking at her phone, as are many people in the station.<\/p>\n

When Milo gets on the subway, we\u2019re told:<\/p>\n

These monthly Sunday subway rides
\nare never ending, and as usual, Milo is a shook-up soda.
\nExcitement stacked on top of worry
\non top of confusion
\non top of love.
\nTo keep himself from bursting, he studies
\nthe faces around him and makes pictures of their lives.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We see the imaginative pictures that Milo draws about the people on the subway.<\/p>\n

When a white boy in a suit with a perfect part and bright white Nikes boards the train, Milo imagines him as a prince going to his castle.<\/p>\n

More interesting people board the train, including a bride and a crew of breakers.<\/p>\n

When Milo and his sister get off the train, we see them going through a metal detector and visiting their mom, who\u2019s wearing an orange jumpsuit, in a room with guards and other families spending time together. To Milo\u2019s surprise, the boy in the suit is there, too. That makes Milo rethink some of his imaginings.<\/p>\n

But the book ends with Milo showing his mom a picture of their family at home, together, eating ice cream on their front steps.<\/p>\n

This book works on many levels. It\u2019s about a subway ride, imagination, having things in common with others, seeing beyond stereotypes, and having an incarcerated parent. But I\u2019m going to approach it as a great story. And that\u2019s how it\u2019s going to be able to reach kids who will benefit from all those other levels.<\/p>\n

mattdelapena.com<\/a>
\ntheartoffun.com<\/a>
\npenguin.com\/kids<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/milo_imagines_the_world.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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