Earnest and message driven but not likely to engage children or teens.
Designed to inspire contentment with lessons from the natural world.
The book makes clear upfront that it’s concerned with “nice and interesting feelings you can get from nature” and “why these feelings are important and how they can help you in your life.” The spreads that follow metaphorically use elements from nature to deliver life lessons. On their own, some are quite effective. For example, “In comparison to the mountains, you’re tiny (we all are), but your mind is even bigger.” A spider web serves as an example of how being “delicate” is actually a strength. One right after another, however, they become predictable and pedantic. The creators’ British roots are apparent with references to maths, crisps, and fizzy drinks. Longish text (200 to 300 words per spread) maintains a calm and reassuring tone. Graphic, collagelike illustrations evoke the character of each natural feature but are not naturalistic portraits. An image of a giant redwood bears little resemblance to its real-life counterpart; the anteater’s sorrowful visage is exaggerated to emphasize the point that sometimes it’s OK to feel sad. The dense, sincere text seems aimed at teens, but its 9-by-10-inch trim size and illustrations may draw readers younger than the intended audience. The book will be most appreciated by counselors, teachers, and well-meaning caregivers.
Earnest and message driven but not likely to engage children or teens. (Nonfiction self-help. 10-15)Pub Date: Feb. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-912891-31-3
Page Count: 72
Publisher: School of Life
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats.
Why should grown-ups get all the historical, scientific, athletic, cinematic, and artistic glory?
Choosing exemplars from both past and present, Mitchell includes but goes well beyond Alexander the Great, Anne Frank, and like usual suspects to introduce a host of lesser-known luminaries. These include Shapur II, who was formally crowned king of Persia before he was born, Indian dancer/professional architect Sheila Sri Prakash, transgender spokesperson Jazz Jennings, inventor Param Jaggi, and an international host of other teen or preteen activists and prodigies. The individual portraits range from one paragraph to several pages in length, and they are interspersed with group tributes to, for instance, the Nazi-resisting “Swingkinder,” the striking New York City newsboys, and the marchers of the Birmingham Children’s Crusade. Mitchell even offers would-be villains a role model in Elagabalus, “boy emperor of Rome,” though she notes that he, at least, came to an awful end: “Then, then! They dumped his remains in the Tiber River, to be nommed by fish for all eternity.” The entries are arranged in no evident order, and though the backmatter includes multiple booklists, a personality quiz, a glossary, and even a quick Braille primer (with Braille jokes to decode), there is no index. Still, for readers whose fires need lighting, there’s motivational kindling on nearly every page.
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats. (finished illustrations not seen) (Collective biography. 10-13)Pub Date: May 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-14-751813-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Puffin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
The app takes advantage of zoom features to take readers through panel by panel, providing a sense of forward motion that...
Traditionally a paper-based series, Middle School Confidential adapts its first graphic novel to the iPad leveraging the device’s functionality to infuse a wide variety of sounds, short songs and character voices.
The app takes advantage of zoom features to take readers through panel by panel, providing a sense of forward motion that synchronizes well with the text’s format. Divided into eight chapters, the story introduces relevant teen topics such as body image, self-esteem, popularity and stress through short, everyday interactions among a group of six male and female friends. To round out each chapter, a teen presents a related short message that’s more public-service announcement than component of the story, which may feel over the top to the audience. Each character is presented through actions and dialogue in the short chapters and with a brief bio that includes his or her strengths and insecurities. Additionally, each bio includes an e-mail address, which links to the iPad’s e-mail function; there is no indication of who will actually receive a reader’s e-mail message and what if any response such an e-mail might trigger. The images in the line-and-watercolor panels mirror and reinforce the characters’ related emotions or actions.Pub Date: April 1, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2011
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