Ricky's Dream Trip Through the Solar System starts with what I consider to be a great idea. A grandfather appears in his grandson's dream and together, they fly through the solar system as the older man introduces the youngster to the planets, their moons and their atmospheres. They start with Mercury, closest to the sun, and end with a glance at Neptune, dismissing the tiny Pluto.
At the end of the 45-page paperback, Stevenson, who has a doctorate in education, includes "fun facts" about the planets. Ricky's Dream Trip Through the Solar System was self-published in 2010 through Off The Bookshelf. It is carried by Amazon.
Author 's Background and Why He Wrote the Book
Stevenson's earliest career was in education. He was a teacher and coach then moved into administration before becoming a tax consultant, information from his publicist states. Stevenson is the president of the National Tax Consultants.
A press release states: "He was admitted to the bar of the United States Tax Court as a nonattorney, a distinction that has only been granted to 250 nonattorneys nationwide since 1943." Who even knew a U.S. Tax Court exists?
“I wrote this book out of love for my grandson,” Stevenson explained in a press release. “I wanted to share my interest in astronomy in a way that would appeal to young minds. The book holds the interest of children because it is written through the eyes of a child. My hope is that parents and educators use the energy created by the children’s interest to expand their knowledge and interest in astronomy, as well as science in general.”
The Way This Reviewer Sees Ricky's Dream Trip
As I said earlier, this is a great idea for a book. However, the book is not particularly well executed. Stevenson may state that the "book holds the interest of children" but I would doubt that. The book does not "read" well. It is stiff and stilted and reads as though it were written by a PhD, not a writer.
The age levels do not match. The content aims at 9 to 12 year olds, but some of the language is too childish – Pop Pop, Mommy and Daddy. The older children for whom the book is written would only laugh, or maybe even be offended by the childishness of the writing, according to a couple of teachers with whom I discussed this book, just to check my own opinion with experts on the subject.
Since the young hero's name and the grandson's name are both "Ricky," it seems reasonable that Stevenson is called "Pop Pop" by his beloved grandson. Writers take what is real, then hone and polish it for their audience. Stevenson simply took the real and did not realize it needed tweaking.
Of the artwork, I liked the planets, but am not crazy about the depiction of people, and the fun facts at the end I found to be the best-written section.
This book has been published too soon. Stevenson has a great idea, but is not a writer. With a little tweaking and professional editing, I believe it could be much better. Or, Stevenson could buy a dialogue book, join a writers group, learn as he goes, and take Ricky on another imaginative trip.
Velma Southerland - Velma Southerland has been employed in the lifestyles section of an award-winning East Tennessee community newspaper for more than 20 ...
