The discovery of fireworks & gunpowder The Asian hall of fame

The second title in the Asian Hall of Fame series features returning characters Emma and Ethan, who observe a fireworks display for a Chinese festival. Their peppy animal friend, a red panda named Dao You, whisks them into the past to learn about alchemists and early gunpowder, followed by an overview of how fireworks began to be used in celebrations. Amara and Chin pack as much STEM information into Dao You's history lesson as there is metallic powder in pyrotechnic stars: "In a mortar, the lift charge ignites to launch the shell up to 300 miles an hour, more than 1,000 feet high." Calle's bright cartoons infuse energy and enthusiasm into each spread. Ages 3-8. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In this follow-up to The Discovery of Ramen (2018), Dao the red panda takes Emma and Ethan on another adventure.On a visit to Chinatown, Emma (with light brown hair and brown eyes), and Ethan (who has Asian features) witness firecrackers exploding and are intrigued by the display. Dao appears and whisks them back to ancient China to learn about gunpowder, the key ingredient in fireworks. During the Han dynasty, alchemists working on a "magic pill" made a substance that created a "bigger bang" when heated. The recipetwo parts sulfur, three parts charcoal and 15 parts saltpeterwas gunpowder, also used in mining, to build roads, and in war. Then, in the 1800s, the Italians added metallic salts to the gunpowder recipe to create the different-colored fireworks we see today. This picture book is filled with fascinating facts (but no bibliography) that should intrigue any child who has seen a fireworks display, and it has many likable elements. These include kid-friendly characters and tidbits of chemistry, physics, and history. Furthermore, Calle's dynamic animation-inflected illustrations keep pages turning. However, the stiff, teacherly text and incongruous storyline make it difficult to follow. Perhaps with a little effort, an adult can make sense of the historical events and chemical reactions that led to the development of the modern-day fireworks display.In theory, a fun, STEAM-filled story idea; in execution, not so much. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.