You and the Universe

February 19, 2024
Text from the Hawkings urges readers to care for one another and the planet in this buoyant book, which riffs on the late Stephen Hawking’s posthumous 2020 Earth Day message. First-person remarks establish a mode of curiosity (“I have tried to answer some really big questions”) that young readers are encouraged to embrace (“But there are other big questions I need you to help answer”). While answers to the scientific queries (“What’s inside a black hole?”) appear in back matter, more humanitarian prompts (“How can we take care of each other?”) emphasize values including kindness, respect, and love. Acrylic, pencil, and digital illustrations by Li supportively emphasize the Hawkings’ focus on global community through circle motifs and depictions of the speaker alongside kids of various abilities and skin tones. Concluding spreads have an environmental vibe as the group marches with eco-signs aloft and simple affirming statements make planetary harmony seem easily achievable. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from January 15, 2024
A statement made by the late physicist Stephen Hawking and broadcast into space on Earth Day is adapted into picture-book format by his daughter, journalist Lucy Hawking. As the book opens, Stephen Hawking appears and notes that he's spent his life "traveling across the universe inside my mind." A mouse accompanies him as he explains the questions he's pondered as a scientist before telling readers he needs their help answering other questions: "How can we take care of each other?" "How can we take care of the planet?" "How can we make the future a place we want to be?" The text is paired with visuals depicting the panoramas of the cosmos, as well as racially diverse people learning, playing, and coming together. Though meant to inspire, the narrative lacks a hook to capture children's interest. Hawking's cohesive message becomes muddled as the visuals go from exploring his scientific endeavors to depicting activists protesting climate change. Scenes of people holding signs and planting a garden offer worthy messages, but there's only a tenuous connection to Hawking's words. The backmatter focuses on black holes, time travel, aliens, and the universe; there's no further reading on how children can make a difference or go about answering the posed questions. The result is a disjointed work that seems more directed at adults than at children. A well-intentioned but ineffective use of Hawking's words. (about Stephen Hawking and his Earth Day message) (Picture book. 4-6)

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