We, the Curious Ones by Marion Dane Bauer (review)

Reviewed by: We, the Curious Ones by Marion Dane Bauer Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Bauer, Marion Dane We, the Curious Ones; illus. by Hari & Deepti. Candlewick, 2023 [40p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781536218596 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 2-4 Humans, Bauer contends, are avid storytellers, narrating a mysterious, chaotic world into order, even if the specific narratives we conjure prove to be mistaken and eventually replaced. The world was thought to be flat for centuries, until curious minds sought and built another story; a round world, then, but surely at the center of the universe? A lovely vision, perhaps, but more questions revealed our sun to be the center, not of the universe, but only our solar system—which is only part of the Milky Way, one of infinite galaxies. Of course, that may still be proven not quite right, and the only real truth of the universe is that it invites endless speculation. A provocative exploration of human existence is skillfully captured in Bauer's quiet [End Page 90] but firm text, compelling readers forward and sparking appropriate curiosity while recognizing the flaws in any sense of certainty. An afterword gives more historical details about specific questioners from a variety of cultures (the Greek philosopher Aristotle; the Hindu Vedic sage Yajnavalkya) and the theories they posited, but more important is the overarching theme of how story and science inform each other, even when their relationship disrupts the presiding interpretation of reality. Ethereal illustrations are a unique blend of hand cut paper dioramas backlit and photographed; they feel pensive but dynamic, with silhouettes of humans and animals dwarfed by a sky swirling with celestial features in soft hues. There are a variety of uses here in a cross-subject curriculum, from storytelling practices in language arts to science history and theory. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois