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Going Places
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A go-cart contest inspires imagination to take flight in this picture book for creators of all ages, with art from New York Times bestselling illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.
It's time for this year's Going Places contest! Finally. Time to build a go-cart, race it—and win. Each kid grabs an identical kit, and scrambles to build.
Everyone but Maya. She sure doesn't seem to be i ...more
It's time for this year's Going Places contest! Finally. Time to build a go-cart, race it—and win. Each kid grabs an identical kit, and scrambles to build.
Everyone but Maya. She sure doesn't seem to be i ...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
March 18th 2014
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
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Apr 17, 2015
Carmen
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Kids; Parents
Recommended to Carmen by:
Book Store
He peered over the fence.
"Hey, Maya, you haven't even started yet?"
Maya didn't respond. She was so intent on watching the bird in front of her, and quickly sketching it, that she didn't even notice Rafael.
A boy with no imagination and a girl with a great imagination team up when the entire class gets the same kit to make go-carts for the annual go-cart race.
Notable things:
The two main characters are non-white.
Good illustrations.
Good message about the value of imagination and working together. ...more
"Hey, Maya, you haven't even started yet?"
Maya didn't respond. She was so intent on watching the bird in front of her, and quickly sketching it, that she didn't even notice Rafael.
A boy with no imagination and a girl with a great imagination team up when the entire class gets the same kit to make go-carts for the annual go-cart race.
Notable things:
The two main characters are non-white.
Good illustrations.
Good message about the value of imagination and working together. ...more

Rafael was excited that the time had finally come to enter the Going Places Contest and take home the kit. He went home, opened the box, followed the instructions, and built his own go-cart. Yet, he was curious about Maya, his neighbor and classmate, and the progress she was making with her kit. Maya, deep in thought while sketching a bird, had bigger aspirations. Inspired by a bird in flight, she created a contraption in which wings were attached to her arms and two-wheeled pedaling boards were
...more

My five year old demanded "read it again!" Which is a pretty good recommendation to me!
The book models creativity, strong creative female character(s), building stuff, following and going beyond directions, strong non-white characters, and respectful treatment of others' work. Plus the illustrations are charming. A keeper, especially for potentially frustrated would-be builders. ...more
The book models creativity, strong creative female character(s), building stuff, following and going beyond directions, strong non-white characters, and respectful treatment of others' work. Plus the illustrations are charming. A keeper, especially for potentially frustrated would-be builders. ...more

Going Places is a story for the creative at heart. This picture book encourages out-of-the-box thinking, the thinking that leads to the greatest inventions and adventures.
The full review can be found at http://katetilton.com/march-2015-k8ap... ...more
The full review can be found at http://katetilton.com/march-2015-k8ap... ...more

Each year, the school class gets to build go-carts to race one another. They are given kits with detailed instructions as well as all of the necessary materials. Rafael follows the directions, working away to build his go-cart. His next door neighbor, Maya, is more preoccupied with nature and creativity. When she finally gets around to opening her box of go-cart materials, she sees another design amidst the pieces, blueprints, and directions. She creates her own go-cart, certainly not like the r
...more

Going Places is an artistically beautiful story with an even better message; it is always okay to be yourself and sometimes the path that everyone else is taking isn’t the only one! The story beings in a classroom with the Going Places contest looming on the near horizon and everyone is very excited, most of all Rafael. Rafael loves the contest and can hardly wait to get his hands on his go-kart kit. He is determined to win the race this year! He rushes home after school to begin building and fo
...more

It is once again time for the annual Going Places contest. The contest in which all the kids build a go-cart using identical go-cart kits. However, Maya's go-cart doesn't look the same as everyone else's. Realizing that there may be more than one way to build a go-cart Rafael and Maya team up to make a go-cart that is a little outside the box.
I think it is extremely important to teach young people that there is not always one way of doing things. Sure, there are rules, but even then there is roo ...more
I think it is extremely important to teach young people that there is not always one way of doing things. Sure, there are rules, but even then there is roo ...more

There are lots of things to love about this new book by Peter H. Reynolds and his brother, Paul A. Reynolds. One of them is the dedication, to their 10th grade social studies teacher, who dared everyone to be original! The story tells about the excitement of the Go-Kart kits each given to a class member to prepare for the coming race. Rafael is so excited, he loves following directions and building things. After finishing, he checks on his neighbor, Maya’s progress and finds that she has a few n
...more

I really love the message of this story. Every child has something different to offer the world and is allowed to be unique in their own way. I always love Reynolds' illustrations, and I especially loved the last page in this book. While not believable at all, I love that this book allows kids to dream.
...more

Who ever raised the Reynold's boys did a phenomenal job! Every book by Peter Reynolds is an absolute winner and this collaboration with his brother Paul is fantastic. A great book about forging your own path and stepping outside of the boxes that we seem to keep drawing for ourselves and our kids. This book would make a great graduation present!
...more

I will likely read this to students at some point during our first few classes together in the fall. It gives a great example of creativity with an added bonus of showing effective collaboration. The author's Dot book has been so over-used in our district that students will definitely be familiar with his work.
...more

Mar 24, 2014
Kellee Moye
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
unleashing-readers,
picture-book-or-board-book
Review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=4666
Peter Reynolds has a way of making his readers feel empowered. When you finish his books, you want to go DO something. This book is no different. Going Places promotes thinking outside of the box and collaborating. ...more
Peter Reynolds has a way of making his readers feel empowered. When you finish his books, you want to go DO something. This book is no different. Going Places promotes thinking outside of the box and collaborating. ...more

Must read book! I can't wait to share with my gifted students who need to learn it's okay to not always follow the directions!
...more

Ah, individuality, going against the grain....love it!

Oh the power of imagination and thinking out of the box!

Theme: individuality, creativity

Rafael and Maya teach us that you can be creative and think outside of the box while still following specified contest directions. These two characters enter into a go-cart racing contest individually but quickly realize that their best chance at winning the contest is by working together. When Rafael, a proactive rule follower, and Maya, a careful and detailed thinker, put their heads together, they come up with an idea that will leave the other fellow contestants in amazement.

This is a wonderful journey for the creative mind and heart. Peter Reynolds is a powerhouse when it comes to inspiring, beautiful picture books. This one is no exception. It can be used in so many ways for so many subjects/discussions. I think I'll shelve this and share it for when we begin our STEM work later in the year. Regardless, this is fantastic and should be checked out!
...more
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Peter Hamilton Reynolds is an author and illustrator of children's books and is the co-Founder and CEO of educational media company FableVision.
...more
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