Paul A. Reynolds

Sydney & Simon: Go Green! - Sydney & Simon Paul A. Reynolds

Marc Notes: After studying the trash situation in their own building, twin mice Sydney and Simon decide that they need to come up with a creative campaign to reduce the amount of trash created in their town, and increase recycling. Biographical Note: Paul A. Reynolds s childhood home was as lively as Sydney and Simon s. His family s ginormous supply of pencils, paper, books, and art was referred to as the creativity tools. Today Paul exercises his imagination at FableVision Studios, a media company he founded with his twin brother, Peter. Together they create storytelling technology, such as websites, games, and animated films. Paul is also the author of the children s book "Going Places." He lives in Dedham, Massachusetts, where his wife manages The Blue Bunny, the family s bookstore. Peter H. Reynolds learned early on that two minds are better than one. Like his twin, Paul, he believes that the arts help us solve problems and understand the world. Peter has written and illustrated many books for children, including "The Dot," "Ish," and "The Smallest Gift of Christmas." He also illustrates Megan McDonald s Judy Moody series. Peter lives in Dedham, Massachusetts, where his wife runs an art gallery just across the street from The Blue Bunny."Review Quotes: In their second STEAM-powered exploration ("Full STEAM Ahead!," 2014), mouse twins Sydney and Simon investigate the problem of garbage. Sydney's foray into trash tracking starts with a field trip to the aquarium, where a green sea turtle is recuperating after eating plastic. It doesn't take much of a leap for Sydney to make a connection: "The more trash we make, the more there's a chance that some of that trash could end up in the ocean." The two keep a tally of their family's trash for a week, and the results are eye-opening. Their school is an even larger garbage generator. Ms. Fractalini helps the twins use science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to come up with a way to raise awareness and encourage the community to participate in a solution. A sculpture of Greenie the turtle made out of trash and a song about going green are the start of a communitywide movement to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Along the way, readers will learn lots about decomposition, how quickly garbage adds up, and ways to reduce trash. Ink-and-watercolor-wash illustrations help break up the text and put pictures in readers' heads that will stick with them, making them likely to want to get on the green bandwagon. Though STEAM is not emphasized as much as it was in the first book, that's not a bad thing, as it helps readers to focus on Sydney and Simon's problem-solving, which they are likely to see as quite doable in their own communities.-"Kirkus Reviews"Publisher Marketing: Once Sydney learns how garbage can get into the ocean and harm sea life, she won't rest until she and her twin brother, Simon, reduce waste at home and at school. Together the creative duo gets friends and family recycling, reusing, and even singing and playing instruments made from repurposed trash. Short, engaging chapters help readers understand the consequences of pollution and provide opportunities to rethink one's environmental footprint. "From the eBook edition." Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2015 pg. 168 (EAN 9781580896771, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Reynolds, Paul A Paul A. Reynolds is CEO of Fablevision Studios, where he oversees creative strategy on all major initiatives, as well as overseeing the many teams who execute on that vision. He also teaches digital media production at Boston College, where he has been inspiring students for nearly two decades to use media, storytelling, and technology to tell "stories that matter, stories that move." He lives with his family in Dedham, Massachusetts, where they run a book and toy shop called the Blue Bunny. Contributor Bio:  Reynolds, Peter H Peter H. Reynolds is the award-winning author and illustrator of The North Star, The Dot, and Ish. He also illustrated the bestselling Someday by Alison McGhee, Tess's Tree by Jess M. Brallier, and the bestselling Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald. Peter is the founder and CEO of FableVision, an educational company that produces animated films, books, and software. He lives in Dedham, Massachusetts.