The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Karlins, Mark

Starring Lorenzo and Einstein Too

32 pp. | Dial | April, 2009 | Trade ISBN 978-0-8037-3220-9 $16.99

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sandy Nichols. A scientist from birth ("Why did his rattle fall down instead of up?"), Lorenzo Fortunato feels like a misfit in his juggling/singing/dancing/banjo-playing family. An encounter with Albert Einstein convinces him otherwise. Karlins's version of the "born-into-the-wrong-family" tale gets off track with its mid-story space exploration. Worth a second look, though, are Nichols's broad-stroke illustrations with a keen retro vibe.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger