The world needs more purple schools

PreS-K--By extending the lesson of their original "purple people" metaphor from The World Needs More Purple People to this book, Bell and Hart seek to open the minds of their readers--as well as those of adults, or "mostly grown adults," in schools--to the idea of building and learning in a "purple school." Led by a bubbly tour guide, Penny Purple, readers visit every room of her "purple" elementary school, a place where creativity blends richly with learning, like how red and blue mix into a perfect purple hue. Readers will be busy taking in the many activities that the students and teachers engage in with joyful enthusiasm; huge smiles fill the characters' faces, even as their simple, sharp-angled forms appear in constant motion, reaching, presenting, or dancing on the pages. In an electrifying voice, Penny applauds the meaningful mindset that her school supports to create a special sense of community, speaking matter-of-factly--with some funny examples--about how collaboration, curiosity, and hard work are a part of every lesson at a purple school. One sparkling note in Penny's animated speech lies in her inspiring claim that silliness, laughter, and individuality are just as important to the growth of the world. While seemingly simple in its message, this book reminds readers that the collaborative will and purposeful actions of all are needed to make this ideal learning environment a reality. VERDICT Engaging with its honesty, silliness, and inspirational message, this book celebrates the idea of a "purple school" to help students and teachers alike put the united value of learning and being yourself into perspective.--Rachel Mulligan

A color-themed vision of what school should be like. In what amounts to a rehash of The World Needs More Purple People (2020), Bell and Hart address adult as well as young readers to explain what "curious and kind you" can do to make school, or for that matter the universe, a better place. Again culminating in the vague but familiar "JUST. BE. YOU!" the program remains much the same--including asking questions both "universe-sized" ("Could you make a burrito larger than a garbage truck?") and "smaller, people-sized" (i.e., personal), working hard to learn and make things, offering praise and encouragement, speaking up and out, laughing together, and listening to others. In the illustrations, light-skinned, blond-haired narrator Penny poses amid a busy, open-mouthed, diverse cast that includes a child wearing a hijab and one who uses a wheelchair. Wiseman opts to show fewer grown-ups here, but the children are the same as in the earlier book, and a scene showing two figures blowing chocolate milk out of their noses essentially recycles a visual joke from the previous outing. (This book was reviewed digitally.) The message is worthy, but this phoned-in follow-up doesn't add anything significant. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.