SUPA NOVA

Ecological concerns prompt a young Black inventor to create a plastic-eating creature.

This STEM-centric romp introduces Nova, a science-loving child with a big personality, a pesky preteen big sister, and a gigantic underground lab. Having learned that scientists are working on mushrooms and mealworms that will consume the multiple islands of waste plastic floating in the ocean, Nova decides to help out. Unfortunately, Chomp, the little being she creates by zapping a mix of random ingredients, including her sister’s used gum (“IT’S ALIVE!”), doesn’t stop with eating the odd toothbrush and other small items—and Chomp grows bigger the more it consumes. Young readers may be confused by the disconnect between Nova’s claim that Chomp just eats plastic; in the loudly hued cartoon scenes, the pink, blobby behemoth ignores piles of plastic rubbish to instead chow down indiscriminately on everything else, from kitchen cabinets and cardboard to hovering helicopters. Still, Nova’s insight that acetic acid dissolves chewing gum is a nugget of actual chemistry, and Timothy brings the tale to a suitably thrilling climax that involves sisterly bonding, creative problem-solving, and wildly entertaining antics. Science for the win!

Just the ticket for unstoppable young mixers and makers with big dreams.