An informative, attractive, and in-depth tour of a land with much to offer.
An introduction to the desert that covers North Africa, an area almost as vast as the United States.
Like the other books in this series, this title explores the region’s geology, topography, flora and fauna in their habitats (including prehistoric ones), the ancient peoples who inhabited it, and changes past, present, and future. Webb engages readers with intriguing facts about climate, weather, and natural features, sometimes in lyrical language (the nighttime desert “whispers an icy breath”). Potentially unfamiliar terms, such as ergs, regs, and hamadas, are either defined in the glossary or explained—and illustrated—in the text. Enriching the science are some myths and legends, including the stories of the Ennedi Tiger, Queen Tin Hinan of the Tuareg, and the Lost City of Zerzura. Vignettes on two pages introduce four prehistoric cultures and three later civilizations, but the Sahel’s cultures aren’t discussed. A selective timeline features six explorers, including one woman: Alexine Tinne. Balancing the staggering amount of detail, the book’s innumerable illustrations in soft-edged, lightly sketched color and line are dominated by blue and beige; verdant hues appear for scenes of the “Green Sahara,” which existed thousands of years ago. Occasionally there’s a disconnect between image and text; on one page two birds are named, but the accompanying illustration shows neither species (instead, it’s a swallow); the caracal and the patas monkey are named but not shown. Words and art soften the image of this harsh environment.
An informative, attractive, and in-depth tour of a land with much to offer. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781838748852
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere.
This book is buzzing with trivia.
Follow a swarm of bees as they leave a beekeeper’s apiary in search of a new home. As the scout bees traverse the fields, readers are provided with a potpourri of facts and statements about bees. The information is scattered—much like the scout bees—and as a result, both the nominal plot and informational content are tissue-thin. There are some interesting facts throughout the book, but many pieces of trivia are too, well trivial, to prove useful. For example, as the bees travel, readers learn that “onion flowers are round and fluffy” and “fennel is a plant that is used in cooking.” Other facts are oversimplified and as a result are not accurate. For example, monofloral honey is defined as “made by bees who visit just one kind of flower” with no acknowledgment of the fact that bees may range widely, and swarm activity is described as a springtime event, when it can also occur in summer and early fall. The information in the book, such as species identification and measurement units, is directed toward British readers. The flat, thin-lined artwork does little to enhance the story, but an “I spy” game challenging readers to find a specific bee throughout is amusing.
Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere. (Informational picture book. 8-10)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-500-65265-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information.
Two youngsters embark on a journey peppered with history, trivia, and skits while teaching money lessons.
Meet Mellody and John, the young stars of this currency showcase. Their very first dialogue offers a taste of the intriguing information to come, from the ancient Mayans’ use of cacao beans as payment to the origins of the piggy bank. The book offers a chronologically and geographically broad timeline of the history of money, encompassing the past 3.9 billion years (starting with meteorite crashes that scattered metals—“the very first bank deposit”) and referencing practices across five continents. Readers will find themselves eagerly sharing the facts gleaned here, including the centuries-old origins of terms and expressions still used today. Mellody and John’s fun banter crucially reflects their experiences with money, such as their families’ differing attitudes toward allowances. Both are savers as well as givers, sharing stories about giving to charity. In one especially entertaining section, a cat and a bunny converse in money-related catchphrases that are separately defined at the bottom of each page. Stevens’ watercolors are appropriately realistic and appealing, whether depicting Mellody’s pretend bank or Elizabeth II’s butler ironing a 10-pound note. Messages about money’s use as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, ensure that readers will think about their own purposes for their savings. Mellody and John are Black.
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781536224719
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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