  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 07/01/2018 K-Gr 3—Guglielmo and Tourville (Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair) team up again to present a picture book biography of noted out-of-the-box thinker, Temple Grandin. The authors focus on young Grandin's creativity and ingenuity and her sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells, and touch—being hugged "felt like being stuffed inside the scratchiest sock in the world.". The narrative details how Grandin came to work on the cattle systems that would make her legendary, and what relief she found in the work. Potter skillfully depicts Grandin's experience using her familiar folk art style. She makes effective use of white space and spot illustrations to carry the story forward and depict Grandin's thoughts and feelings. In another spread, Potter suggests a connection between Grandin and her mother, even as Temple is shown hiding under a table and then running away from a hug: her plaid shirt matches the colors and lines on her mother's apron. An authors' note gives more detail about Grandin's life and work, but no sources are listed. Notably, the back matter is the only place in the book where autism is mentioned. VERDICT An inspiring look at the development of a scientist and advocate. Highly recommended for biography sections as well as for elementary STEAM curricula.—Jennifer Costa, Cambridge Public Library, MA - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 08/01/2018 The ever-inspirational Temple Grandin is the subject of this picture book about a mechanical solution to a sensory challenge. As a child, Grandin displayed extreme sensitivity to sounds, smells, and touch. While she wished she could experience something as universally pleasant as hugging, it was a torturous experience for her. When, as a young woman, she witnessed a ranch hand guiding a skittish cow into a squeeze box for a veterinary exam, she was inspired to invent a similar device for herself. Grandin’s hug machine allowed her to experience the pleasure of an embrace under conditions she could control, till she ultimately reached a point where she no longer needed it. Grandin’s story is tenderly told. The consternation the young girl feels at her inability to partake in a fundamental human experience is abundantly clear through Potter’s woodcut-style illustrations, and her eventual solution feels like a unique triumph. An author’s note explains how Grandin’s experience with autism has shaped her life and her activism. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
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