Review Detail

Marcelo, Martello, Marshmallow takes a fanciful look at language and questions through the eyes of a child why we have the words that we do instead of others. Marcelo wonders why language uses Latin as its base instead of descriptions for what things look like or do and decides to use his own language to better describe his surroundings. Children often explore language and make up sounds or silly words that they like better so this book exemplifies that natural curiosity in children. This makes it a perfect read for fans of Frindle by Andrew Clements. The illustrations are quirky collages that complement the text’s exploration of the central question of why things are the way they are. Overall, this is a thought-provoking exploration of language while being fun and whimsical.