Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

A flight of scientific fancy.As the daughter of world-renowned scientist Charles Darwin, young Henrietta "Etty" Darwin learned to question the world around her even as she wrote fairy stories on the backs of his manuscripts. This distinctive selection, presented in a modified graphic-panel format, shows the daughter and father (and their dog) as they embark on a "thinking path" called The Sandwalk-a well-trod trail that Darwin and his family wandered while pondering ideas-and the two have a discussion (imagined by the author) about the existence of fairies and the problem of evidence. Dialogue bubbles furnish the questions and answers while poetic, descriptive narrative sentences provide just the right amount of context, and together they offer up a pair of believable, inquisitive characters, warm and sweet without the faintest whiff of sentimentality. Lush, layered illustrations give a sense of the Victorian era while they capture a realistic natural landscape with forays into fantasy, Etty always at its center; a spread featuring yellow butterflies is particularly dazzling. Etty's heavy brows and quizzical expressions show a girl unconcerned with looking pretty, deep in thought and an intrinsic part of the flora and fauna that surround both her father and herself. The two White characters are joined by Polly the dog, a detail sure to appeal. An excellent introduction to the natural sciences, Darwin, fairies, and inquiry, sure to inspire and fascinate young readers and listeners. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 55.9% of actual size.)Scientific investigation meets magic in this glowing selection. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

At the Darwin household, any family member is welcome to use the Sandwalk, a path that loops around the property, installed for leisurely strolls to work out perplexing problems. This story peeks in on one such excursion, as young Etty joins her famous father, Charles, on his daily constitutional. Etty wishes to discuss a pressing issue: is it possible that fairies exist? Charles carefully considers the matter. Round and round the path they go, Etty's original line of inquiry leading to more questions and an occasional intriguing conclusion. While the chat is fictional, an endnote reveals that the path and family walks were real and an older Etty became an invaluable assistant in Charles' work. The fictionalized pair have a wonderful rapport, and Charles never dismisses questions, instead gently pressing his daughter to consider matters more fully. The soft, lush illustrations, intimate and welcoming, are occasionally broken up into boxes to better accommodate conversations. A sweet snapshot of familial friendship, scientific inquiry, and the magic that exists in the natural world.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Fairies, butterflies, foxes; belief, observation, evidence -- there's plenty to ponder and discuss with your father when he happens to be Charles Darwin, "one of the greatest thinkers in the history of the World." Joining Papa for one of his twice-a-day strolls around the Sandwalk, his "oval thinking path," young Etty suggests that they do four laps, tracked with four flint pebble markers. As they walk with the family dog, Etty's questions drive much of their warm and lively chat. She first asks Papa about fairies, and he describes his "trouble believing in anything without proof." Their discussion shifts to the importance of keen observation, and, in Soloy's verdant mixed-media illustrations, yellowish-green leaves turn out to be camouflaged butterflies. Flattened grass and a small hole signal that a fox is nearby, and Soloy zooms in for two of the book's many visual highlights: a dramatic double-page spread dominated by the predator's face and piercing eyes; and, after the page-turn, a close-up vignette of Etty's hand clasped tightly in Papa's. In her author's note, Soloy explains that the characters, setting, and even Etty's interest in fairies are factual, but the dialogue is fabricated. Styled with comic/graphic novel conventions (speech bubbles, brief text, panel illustrations), Soloy's historical-fiction picture book makes room for both science and make-believe. But at its core, it's all about a special relationship, wonderfully humanizing the father of evolutionary theory who prized his daughter's thoughts and gave her musings "space to fly." Tanya D. Auger

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A flight of scientific fancy.As the daughter of world-renowned scientist Charles Darwin, young Henrietta "Etty" Darwin learned to question the world around her even as she wrote fairy stories on the backs of his manuscripts. This distinctive selection, presented in a modified graphic-panel format, shows the daughter and father (and their dog) as they embark on a "thinking path" called The Sandwalk-a well-trod trail that Darwin and his family wandered while pondering ideas-and the two have a discussion (imagined by the author) about the existence of fairies and the problem of evidence. Dialogue bubbles furnish the questions and answers while poetic, descriptive narrative sentences provide just the right amount of context, and together they offer up a pair of believable, inquisitive characters, warm and sweet without the faintest whiff of sentimentality. Lush, layered illustrations give a sense of the Victorian era while they capture a realistic natural landscape with forays into fantasy, Etty always at its center; a spread featuring yellow butterflies is particularly dazzling. Etty's heavy brows and quizzical expressions show a girl unconcerned with looking pretty, deep in thought and an intrinsic part of the flora and fauna that surround both her father and herself. The two White characters are joined by Polly the dog, a detail sure to appeal. An excellent introduction to the natural sciences, Darwin, fairies, and inquiry, sure to inspire and fascinate young readers and listeners. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 55.9% of actual size.)Scientific investigation meets magic in this glowing selection. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

School Library Journal (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

K-Gr 3 In this sweet story of father and child discovery, Charles Darwin and his daughter Etty go for long walks and contemplate scientific inquiry, nature, and fairies.Vividly colored and textured digital illustrations with richly detailed outdoor landscapes supplement a simple text of the pair's conversations in a mix of full-page spreads and smaller boxes. Etty desperately wants to believe that fairies exist, while Darwin largely listens and points out natural phenomena, playing a supportive father. The text is a mix of dialogue and short narration that asks thoughtful questions but does not overpower the book's art. With the myriad details in Soloy's illustrations, this gentle, contemplative title may be best suited to small groups for sharing. VERDICT While the characters are based on a historical figure and his daughter Henrietta, who did write fairy stories, the details are all imagined. For larger collections. Kelsey Socha, Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield, MA