Brunetti, Ivan. This Makes That with Annemarie. Ivan Brunetti, Illus. Toon, 05/2025. [36]pp. Reader. Trade $13.99. 978-1-6626-6556-1. GRADES Kindergarten–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Annemarie (previously featured in Brunetti’s Shapes and Shapes with Annemarie, 2023) and her classmates participate in STEAM activities at the school’s science lab in this comic book-style beginning reader. Part of the Toon Into Reading series of beginning reader graphic novels, this is labeled as “Level 1: First Comics for Brand-new Readers.” The unique illustration style shows the ethnically diverse students with large round heads and skinny arms and legs. The book design uses dialogue balloons and paneled artwork like regular comics, and a pastel color palette. This is sure to inspire similar STEAM activities, such as using a lemon to light up a lightbulb or making a color wheel using candies, that explore simple science concepts.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool