INFINITY AND ME

Nancy Wu expresses the youth, verve, and mercurial feelings of Uma as she wonders at the number of stars in the huge, cold sky. Gabi Swiatkowska’s illustrations show the small girl dwarfed by the celestial immensity she is just beginning to appreciate. Uma begins a quest to discover what infinity is by asking peers and elders their views. Wu’s narration blends beautifully with the story’s sound effects and musical accents, and she successfully differentiates characters. In particular, she measures Uma’s growing confusion and frustration as her wish to understand becomes more emotional than intellectual. Uma triumphs in the end, determining a stance on infinity that comforts her, and Wu voices her satisfaction. The author reads an afterword that includes quotes given and read by young children. Together, the audio and print book encourage curiosity and discussion. S.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2016]