#BOOKREVIEW
CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW AS A WRITER AND A READER

Title: Wonder Walkers
Author and Illustrator: Micha Archer
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Target Audience: 3-5-Year-Old

What if asking questions could change the way children see the world? Wonder Walkers invites just that.

Curiosity questions open minds that otherwise might be closed. Now pair the act of questioning with walking. The impact is multi-fold. Brain exercise with physical movement…what more can you ask for in the AI age where we are at a risk of killing children’s critical thinking and increasing lazy bodies? 

The title ‘Wonder Walkers’ generated curiosity in me. The book is heavy on illustrations with little text. Fewer words convey more. The double spread illustrations with a question on it allows a child to interpret the images without any limit. It nurtures inquisitiveness and the desire to dig for answers. This book reminds me of series for toddlers – Little Einsteins.  It was an innovative series where preschoolers would go on a mission which could be going to Great Wall of China, Big Ben or Eiffel Tower. Their job was to overcome an obstacle and take viewers on a quest.

Wonder Walkers just like Little Einsteins take the reader on a journey of landscapes through the vibrant illustrations. Every scenery becomes a medium to satisfy the thirst of knowledge. Every brain is unique, every question is valuable, and every answer holds some truth. This book respects the uniqueness and individuality. It teaches adults to welcome every idea and suggests creating a space to let that idea grow.

This book doesn’t need more, it could benefit from less, especially for neuro-divergent children. There is a lot going on every page, softer colors or blank space would have provided a breathing space and relief to eyes. It would get easy for children who find it hard to stay focused. While vibrant colors are engaging, they can get overwhelming for neuro-divergent kids.

The one-line questions on every page spread taught me to keep things simple. Overcomplication can kill a child’s learning. Children take time to process the information. They are curious by nature, asking questions opens their mind and they think beyond the obvious.  It helps them to enhance their creativity and think out-of-the-box. Teachers can use this book as an opportunity to open discussions on the idea that there are no wrong or right questions.

Micha Archer is an author/illustrator of two books who worked as a Kindergarten teacher for many years. A teacher can know the significance of asking questions. It’s a medium to analyse, if a student is grasping the concept or not.

For parents, going on wonder walks and posing questions like “Is the sun the world’s light bulb?” is an interesting game to play with children. It adds value to life and makes an enriching experience for children who mostly prefer to play video games.

What struck me most was the encouragement to be curious. “Do Mountains have bones?” or “Are trees the sky’s legs?” My adult brain rarely asks questions like a child. I often take things at face value without questioning and don’t see beyond the obvious. 

As a writer and teacher, I thank Micha Archer for writing a marvellous book like Wonder Walkers. I hope she continues writing books aimed towards holistic growth of a child and invites adult to walk and wonder, too.

---