K-Gr 4 Geonardo the inventor loves his little daughter, Cleonardo Wren, very much. He is used to working with her by his side as he crafts fascinating new pieces. This year, for the town's annual Grand Festival of Inventions, Cleo is determined to help her dad achieve greatness, but everything she suggests he gently dismisses. Dismayed, Cleo heads off to create her own invention to impress her dad. With the help of her grandfather, Leonardo, also an inventor, she produces an item that she is proud of, but will others see its value as much as she doeseven her dad? Set in an old town nestled at the foot of a mountain with mystical woods that look fit for fairies, this picture book for kids of all ages is enchanting. The illustrations are painted in deep jewel tones with shadowing that lures one in. The length of the text makes the title ideal as a read-aloud or a read-alone for older kids. The message that children, and, more specifically, girls, are able to build, create, and contribute to society is strong and encouraging, and the heartwarming ending is satisfying, with its gentle reminder that more can be accomplished when people choose to work together. VERDICT This lovely offering has a vintage feel and a timeless message that would work equally well in a STEM class as it would at storytime. Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

Starred Review Every image in Caldecott Honor Book illustrator GrandPré's newest offering glows with wonder and beauty. The verdant acrylic paintings depict young Cleo Wren's aspiration to be a great inventor like her father (Geonardo) and grandfather (Leonardo), but with her own unique touch. As Geonardo tightens the wheels and cogs of his machine for the annual Grand Festival of Inventions, Cleo's suggestions for plant-based improvements icky bug vine, for instance e gently refused. So she heads outside to build an invention of her own. Wild-haired, with a flower and leaves tucked in her tresses, Cleo sets about collecting supplies from the forest. Soon she has built a tiny whirligig from a flower bud and fallen dragonfly wings, but when Grandpa Leo praises her "toy," Cleo knows she will have to make something grander for the competition. While the girl is hard at work, so, too, is her father, who misses having his daughter's help in the workshop so much that he creates an entirely new machine in her honor. The next morning, both pack up their inventions and head to the festival, where a near catastrophe proves how incredible Cleo's creations really are d how much the father and daughter mean to each other. Rooted in intelligence and love, GrandPré's story will enthrall, empower, and encourage creation.

Setting her tale in a rococo medieval world, GrandPré (The Noisy Paint Box) joins her heroine, Cleonardo Wren, to the family tree of Leonardo da Vinci-he-s her beloved grandfather. After Cleo-s inventor father, Geonardo, shoos her out of his workshop, she retreats to the forest to make contraptions out of objects from nature-a whirligig made from dragonfly wings, a sphere of vines lifted by butterflies. Despite Geonardo-s impatience, his daughter-s presence and opinions clearly matter to him. When he comes up with a special invention for the town-s Grand Festival of Inventions, he declares, -My little Wren will love it as much as the judges.- On the big day, her inventions prevent disaster, and father and daughter become true collaborators. GrandPré-s spreads glow with richly embroidered textiles, exotic foliage, and dramatic lighting. The thorough emphasis on the importance of a strong father-daughter (and grandfather-granddaughter) bond is welcome but sometimes drawn with a heavy hand (-Delicate and strong... just like my Cleonardo Wren,- Geonardo gushes as he sets out for the contest). It-s GrandPré-s visual pyrotechnics that will entrance readers. Ages 4-8. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Aug.)

A young girl secretly invents a machine to impress her father.Cleonardo wishes to be an inventor like her father, Geonardo, and grandfather Leonardo. While her father welds metal and hammers bolts, she sources her materials from nature. Cleo offers to help her father for their town's annual Grand Festival of Inventions, but he does not take her suggestions seriously. In order to impress her father, Cleo decides create her own invention for the festival. With the help of her grandfather and his favorite tool, she secretly constructs her machine using materials found in the forest. Missing his daughter by his side, Geonardo invents his greatest piece, hoping to lure Cleo back to his workshop. On the day of the festival. Geonardo excitedly releases his invention, a mechanical bird, only to have it malfunction and hurtle toward the crowds. It's up to Cleo to save her townspeople using her forest-inspired invention. GrandPré creates a spirited heroine with both her words and her illustrations. She effortlessly depicts Cleo's unconventional imagination with the flowers woven through her wavy brown hair and her description of the forest Cleo loves. The story will inspire young readers to embrace their creativity, no matter their preferred medium. Cleo and her family appear to be white; their Renaissance-inflected town is cheerily diverse. An inspiring tale for inventors of all ages. (Picture book. 5-8)