From the series The Power of Positivity
The Power of Optimism
Reading Level Grades 2-3Interest Level Grades 2 – 5Copyright 2024
Reviewed
From the series The Power of Positivity
Reading Level Grades 2-3Interest Level Grades 2 – 5Copyright 2024
ReviewedHow can optimism affect your life? The Power of Optimism helps readers understand what happens in the brain when they practice optimism. STEM concepts cover aspects of psychology and neurology in simple terms, while social and emotional learning (SEL) concepts support growth mindset. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about the science behind optimism. Grow with Goals and Try This! activities further reinforce the content. This title also includes a diagram of the brain, sidebars, a table of contents, a glossary, an index, and tips for educators and caregivers.
The Power of Optimism is part of Jump!’s The Power of Positivity series.
These profiles of female scientists include basic biographical information and identify key achievements. Opening chapters touch on their early lives, and the following chapters shift to focus on their accomplishments. Complex concepts, like Chien-Shiung Wu’s work on the atomic bomb and Marie Curie’s work with radiation, are presented at a basic level with simple diagrams and photos for some visual support. The text does not include quotations from or about the scientists, which keeps the narratives at a generally impersonal level. Final chapters highlight the impacts of the scientists’ work up to current times and note either the year that they died or, in the cases of Temple Grandin and Jane Goodall, their current activities. Gender-based struggles that women in science faced are noted, as when the contributions of Rosalind Franklin, Chien-Shiung Wu, and Katherine Johnson were not initially widely acknowledged. “Did you know?” factoids are sprinkled throughout and review activity, glossary, further reading, and an index are included in the back matter. VERDICT Solid if unexceptional choices to round out STEM biography collections. –Steven Engelfried
School Library Journal
