Book review: 'This Book is Cute! The Soft and squishy science and culture of aww' is surprisingly educational

Image from National Geographic

So, I'm not all about cute things. It's not easy to make me say things like, "awwww!" or, "how cute!!" while I squeal with joy. And. while I think many people would have those reactions to the pages of, "This Book is Cute!: The soft and squishy science and culture of aww" I did not.

I did, however, think this book was absolutely fascinating. And that totally surprised me. You see, I was expecting "This Book is Cute!" to be trivial and something trendy tweens would like. What I didn't expect was for it to actually be a teacher of culture across time and nations.

Image from Amazon

"This Book is Cute!" is a National Geographic Kids book full of photography and facts. Readers can learn just about everything small, from insects to food to drones. They'll also learn about the psychology behind why we humans think certain things (like stuffed animals with big eyes) are cute. Sloths, robots, and the Japanese obsession with Kawaii are all explained in this book that took me completely by surprise.

Image from Amazon

I didn't realize it until I read its pages, but "This Book is Cute!" is actually quite educational. Cute things in Australia, Thailand, and Israel are pictured and explained. Several pages are dedicated to genetically engineered small foods and a sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica (see above photo) has its own section, complete with photos. I'm going to reintroduce this took to my kids by placing it on our Social Studies bookshelf. I love learning about different cultures and NatGeoKids makes this learning experience fun.

"This Book is Cute!" has nothing offensive in it and is a fun way to learn about cultures.

Book breakdown:
112 pages
Full color photographs
Best for ages: 10 and older
Educational factor: medium
Christian content: N/A
Parents could be concerned about: Nothing. This book can teach a lot about different cultures.