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

The duo behind the bestselling STEAM-based picture book series that introduced engineer Rosie Revere, architect Iggy Peck, and scientist Ada Twist turns the kids into a team, -the Questioneers,- in a spirited chapter book series opener. The kids are as ambitious as ever, and Rosie-s great-great-aunt Rose supplies additional pizzazz with her fellow Blue River Riveters, who built airplanes together during WWII and now spend their days laughing, singing, dancing, and helping one another-all sporting polka-dot kerchiefs. When artist June breaks both wrists in a motor-scooter mishap, Aunt Rose directs Rosie to invent something on a tight timeline so that June can participate in an art contest, despite her double casts. The young engineer leaps into action, using -springs and strings and other things- to repurpose a failed invention. Through a sequence of trials, neatly captured in Roberts-s buoyant illustrations, Rosie creates the Paintapalooza. Design elements (graph paper, illustrated inventions) give the book a scientific feel, and the collaborators again balance entertainment with key life lessons in problem-solving, persistence, and resilience. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 6-9. Author-s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. Illustrator-s agent: Christine Isteed, Artist Partners. (Oct.)

ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Rosie's great-great-aunt Rose is an original "Rosie the Riveter," having worked on airplane manufacturing during WWII. June, Rose's friend, adores participating in an annual art contest but fears she will have to pass this year due to an accident, which broke both wrists and prevents her from holding brushes. Rosie wants to engineer a device to help her friend, but she only has two days to design, make, and test her ideas! Thus, the Paintapalooza is born (with a little help from Rosie's friends, Ava Twist, a scientist, and Iggy Peck, an architect). Young readers might be familiar with these characters, as they starred in their own picture books and are now venturing into chapter-book territory to flesh out their STEAM-based misadventures. Here Rosie places an emphasis on not being afraid of failure, and if she ever gets carried away by excitement or doubt, she must "STOP AND THINK!" The strength of this series is in the positive portrayal of diverse kids engaging in various arts and sciences. A natural choice for fans aging out of their favorite Rosie Revere picture books.

Horn Book

Inspired by Beaty and Roberts's picture-book collaborations (Rosie Revere, Engineer and others), this series-opening chapter book ticks many boxes: STEAM engagement, growth mindset, strong girls, diversity, and intergenerational learning. Zany as ever in the stylized illustrations, Rosie and friends must invent a painting aid for one of elderly Aunt Rose's spitfire friends. Sturdily made and stylishly designed, the book is a solid addition to collections.

Kirkus Reviews

That intrepid, polka-dot-kerchief-wearing engineer, Rosie Revere, stars in this inaugural installment of a chapter-book series based on Beaty and Roberts' popular picture books.Emergency! The Blue River Riveters need Rosie's help. A sister Riveter has broken both wrists in a motor-scooter mishap and needs mechanical assistance to participate in the upcoming Art-a-Go-Go contest. The Riveters, a tightknit family by choice brought together building B-29s during World War II, convince Rosie to do her part. Undaunted by the two-day deadline, Rosie draws on her own knowledge and experience to get the job done, and her pals, scientist Ada Twist and architect Iggy Peck, lend a hand as Rosie tries and tries again until she gets it right with the Paintapalooza 9. But when the artist's arms grow tired in the middle of the contest, Rosie turns to an unexpected ally to get her back to work. The story has significant visual elements: Onomatopoeia and liberal capitalization make the text pop, and the grid-patterned art and design elements familiar from the picture books inspire a science-notebook feel. There's a fair amount of diversity, either acknowledged in the text or portrayed in the black-and-white illustrations: Rosie and Iggy are white, and Ada is black, while among the Riveters, wheelchair-driving Eleanor, aka the Boss, is Asian, Ada's great-aunt Bernice is black, and the remainder of the Riveters appear to be diverse in the artwork. Backmatter includes further information on valves and on the history of Rosie the Riveter.No history lessons here but plenty of affection, creativity, and raucous older ladies to make readers smile. (Fiction. 5-9)