A captivating exploration of a wonder-filled domain most of us can only imagine.
A treasure ship yields its riches—a teeming underwater world.
The ship sailed across the Caribbean in 1733 before sinking in a storm. Fortunately, the crew escaped. In the aftermath, the sunken galleon’s remains burgeoned with astonishing varieties of sea life and vegetation, all identified here. New generations blossomed over time. Who could have imagined that every part of a downed ship could nourish, sustain, and shelter new life? The ship’s remains enriched the seafloor, too, as it “decomposed in the shifting sands,” eventually erupting in “a rainbow of reef life.” Over time, the ship became an artificial reef, a “coral-reef treasure trove.” While the ship may have met a tragic end, the ultimate outcome is “a safe harbor for all.” In the author’s note, Hevron states that she was inspired by the sinking of the San Pedro and explains that sunken ships actually benefit the planet. With brief yet lyrical text and breezily humorous but informative dialogue, this treasure of a book will help young readers comprehend fascinating facts and salient concepts. Hevron indicates the passing of time, periodically noting the year up to the “present day.” The gorgeous illustrations, created with acrylic, marker, and pencil, then digitally collaged, bring the undersea environment and its denizens to vivid, breathtaking life. A simple diagram of the ship’s components graces the title page.
A captivating exploration of a wonder-filled domain most of us can only imagine. (additional reading, selected sources) (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
ISBN: 9781665935005
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
Another playful imagination-stretcher.
Markle invites children to picture themselves living in the homes of 11 wild animals.
As in previous entries in the series, McWilliam’s illustrations of a diverse cast of young people fancifully imitating wild creatures are paired with close-up photos of each animal in a like natural setting. The left side of one spread includes a photo of a black bear nestling in a cozy winter den, while the right side features an image of a human one cuddled up with a bear. On another spread, opposite a photo of honeybees tending to newly hatched offspring, a human “larva” lounges at ease in a honeycomb cell, game controller in hand, as insect attendants dish up goodies. A child with an eye patch reclines on an orb weaver spider’s web, while another wearing a head scarf constructs a castle in a subterranean chamber with help from mound-building termites. Markle adds simple remarks about each type of den, nest, or burrow and basic facts about its typical residents, then closes with a reassuring reminder to readers that they don’t have to live as animals do, because they will “always live where people live.” A select gallery of traditional homes, from igloo and yurt to mudhif, follows a final view of the young cast waving from a variety of differently styled windows.
Another playful imagination-stretcher. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781339049052
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet and endearing feathered migration.
A relationship between a Latina grandmother and her mixed-race granddaughter serves as the frame to depict the ruby-throated hummingbird migration pattern.
In Granny’s lap, a girl is encouraged to “keep still” as the intergenerational pair awaits the ruby-throated hummingbirds with bowls of water in their hands. But like the granddaughter, the tz’unun—“the word for hummingbird in several [Latin American] languages”—must soon fly north. Over the next several double-page spreads, readers follow the ruby-throated hummingbird’s migration pattern from Central America and Mexico through the United States all the way to Canada. Davies metaphorically reunites the granddaughter and grandmother when “a visitor from Granny’s garden” crosses paths with the girl in New York City. Ray provides delicately hashed lines in the illustrations that bring the hummingbirds’ erratic flight pattern to life as they travel north. The watercolor palette is injected with vibrancy by the addition of gold ink, mirroring the hummingbirds’ flashing feathers in the slants of light. The story is supplemented by notes on different pages with facts about the birds such as their nest size, diet, and flight schedule. In addition, a note about ruby-throated hummingbirds supplies readers with detailed information on how ornithologists study and keep track of these birds.
A sweet and endearing feathered migration. (bibliography, index) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0538-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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