Horn Book Review
For show-and-tell, Rose wants to discover something that hasn't been found before, but she doesn't know where to look for it. So she draws maps and follows them into the sky, sea, mountains, and beyond. Does Rose find what she's looking for, or has she created it herself? Marcero's intricate mixed-media illustrations, particularly of Rose's many maps, bring this imaginative journey to life. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A young girl journeys as far as her imagination can take her in search of something to bring to show and tell."Rose longed to be an explorer, a pioneer, a trailblazer. / Her heart was set on discovering something that had never been found / to bring to show-and-tell." Her journey is a daunting one since she does not know where to find such a treasureor even if it exists at allbut Rose has a brilliant strategy that starts with making a map with her imagination as a guide. First her hand-drawn road map takes her to the beach, then a similar sky map leads her right up through the exosphere. Next, an ocean map helps her navigate the high seas, and finally a railroad map takes her all the way to the very last train stopall to no avail. Marcero makes excellent use of the picture book as a storytelling vehicle. Bright, open illustrations deftly capture Rose's quest with landscapes that effortlessly dismantle the supposed opposition between the real and the imaginary. Alongside them, simple sentences move younger readers through page turns, including Rose's maps presented in vibrant double spreads, as anticipation gently builds and delightfully resolves with Rose's realization that her journey (and her maps!) is more than perfect for show and tell. That Rose is a girl of color simply makes the book all the sweeter.Lovely, lively, and enchanting for new and veteran explorers alike. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Rose wants to be an explorer, a pioneer, a trailblazer, and with show-and-tell approaching, she's set on discovering something that has never been found to bring. However, she has no idea what nor where it might be, so she draws a map and sets off. What ensues is a series of maps of her fanciful journeys, which take her and her cat through towns, mountains, and even into space. But while that just-right object proves elusive, as Rose and her classmates learn, she ultimately may have found something quite special to show-and-tell after all. Charming colorful illustrations depict Rose on her travels with cartoonish and whimsical touches. Interspersed are her intricately detailed, scrutiny-inviting maps, which highlight her path as she traipses through places both familiar (aquarium, library) and playful ( Daydreaming Grasslands and bunny-shaped Bunny Isles ). Some sophisticated vocabulary and references may need explaining (mesosphere, archipelago, sapho longwing, for example). But ultimately, Rose's maps and the sharing of her experiences showcase how imagination can inspire delight and adventures of all kinds.--Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright 2018 Booklist
