Ada Twist, Scientist

Why It's On Our Shelf

Ada asks why about everything, which sometimes drives her parents crazy but ultimately leads to her becoming a scientist. The rhyming text by Andrea Beaty has a great rhythm, and the illustrations by David Roberts are detailed and expressive. What I love about this series (Iggy Peck, Rosie Revere, Ada Twist) is that it celebrates kids who are obsessive about their interests rather than treating them as problems to fix. Ada's curiosity is presented as her superpower, not something that needs to be controlled. It shows that asking questions is how you learn, even when adults don't always have the patience for constant why-ing. It's the kind of book that gives kids permission to be intensely curious.