Horn Book

Fair-skinned Melia loves inventing; brown-skinned neighbor Jo is always singing, dancing, and making art. However, this unlikely pair (perhaps inspired by Amelia Earhart and Josephine Baker?) learn that they can "create more super-cool stuff together than either could create alone." Bright, cartoony illustrations featuring orange, lime, and purple complement the motivational (if message-y) text. Back matter includes craft instructions and a STEAM-encouraging note.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Aronson and Oxley (creators of the PBS Kids series Peg + Cat) celebrate the power of STEAM in this unsubtle story about teamwork and the value of diverse perspectives. Melia (after Amelia Earhart) is a budding inventor wearing a cape and a pilot helmet. Jo, clad in flapper attire (a visual shout-out to Josephine Baker), is the artsy performer next door who wreaks havoc on Melia-s most beloved inventions, sticking licorice in Melia-s robot and sailing her paper plane into the mud. But Melia-s initial annoyance turns to awe when she realizes that Jo-s -silly ideas- fix her malfunctioning creations- flaws. After Jo literally finds herself up a tree, the two predictably decide they work better as a team. (-By combining Jo-s art skills with Melia-s science skills, they could create more super-cool stuff together than either could create alone.-) Backmatter includes instructions for making a plane like Melia-s and a prompt asking readers to reflect on their own artistic and scientific skills. Heavy-handed STEAM messaging aside, Melia and Jo are likable protagonists, and Aronson and Oxley-s roots in animation are on full display in the action-filled illustrations. Ages 4-7. (Aug.)

School Library Journal (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

K-Gr 2 The methodical Melia loves creating machines. The artistic Josephine loves to express herself. When the two cross paths, they don't appreciate one another at first. However, Jo's dabbling eventually turns into a source of inspiration for Melia. Likewise, Melia and her inventions prove useful to Jo. Once they discover this, they quickly realize that together, their strengths complement each other, allowing them to create things that neither could alone. Set within the STEAM model, this narrative imparts a lot of good life lessons. Melia and Jo's story shows how creativity can take different shapes, and that, even though the arts and sciences generally serve different purposes, and require different skill sets, they are not so unlike that they can't come together and be on equal footing. Fans of Andrea Beaty's books will appreciate the cute, digitally painted style, with colors that will attract the eye, and the girl-powered message. This also include a note about STEAM, and simple instructions for making an airplane in the back. VERDICT A great book for encouraging kids to apply themselves to the STEAM disciplines, work together, and make friends. A strong choice. Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.