An engaging account of scientific observation and experimentation for kids.
Pattison’s latest educational picture book in her Moments in Science series features magnets, magnetism, and the story of pioneering physician and physicist William Gilbert (1544–1603).
Gilbert wondered about the mysteries of compasses, and used the scientific method to investigate them, beginning with two queries: “Mystery #1: Why does the compass needle always point north? Mystery #2: Why does the compass needle dip toward Earth?” Pattison details the scientist’s 18-year process to collect and learn about “lodestones, or natural magnets.” Gilbert found that many common magnet myths were untrue—diamonds can’t magnetize iron, for instance—and his experiments confirmed other beliefs, including that “Magnets have a north pole and a south pole…where the magnetic pull is the strongest.” Pattison’s clear explication of magnets integrates facts into a story format that children will easily comprehend; a two-page illustration of a horseshoe magnet ably defines and explains it, and Pattinson’s choice to highlight both myths and facts is effective. Pattison also clearly states Gilbert’s mission at the start with the aforementioned numbered mysteries. Backmatter includes additional information for inspired youngsters. Willis’ colorful, detailed illustrations complement the text beautifully with visual representations of complex concepts. The images include a bit of whimsy, as well; notably, a dog appears in illustrations throughout.
An engaging account of scientific observation and experimentation for kids.Pub Date: June 11, 2024
ISBN: 9781629442457
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Mims House
Review Posted Online: May 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A solid addition to Rotner’s seasonal series. Bring on summer.
Rotner follows up her celebrations of spring and autumn with this look at all things winter.
Beginning with the signs that winter is coming—bare trees, shorter days, colder temperatures—Rotner eases readers into the season. People light fires and sing songs on the solstice, trees and plants stop growing, and shadows grow long. Ice starts to form on bodies of water and windows. When the snow flies, the fun begins—bundle up and then build forts, make snowballs and snowmen (with eyebrows!), sled, ski (nordic is pictured), skate, snowshoe, snowboard, drink hot chocolate. Animals adapt to the cold as well. “Birds grow more feathers” (there’s nothing about fluffing and air insulation) and mammals, more hair. They have to search for food, and Rotner discusses how many make or find shelter, slow down, hibernate, or go underground or underwater to stay warm. One page talks about celebrating holidays with lights and decorations. The photos show a lit menorah, an outdoor deciduous tree covered in huge Christmas bulbs, a girl next to a Chinese dragon head, a boy with lit luminarias, and some fireworks. The final spread shows signs of the season’s shift to spring. Rotner’s photos, as always, are a big draw. The children are a marvelous mix of cultures and races, and all show their clear delight with winter.
A solid addition to Rotner’s seasonal series. Bring on summer. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3976-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
A gleeful game for budding naturalists.
Artfully cropped animal portraits challenge viewers to guess which end they’re seeing.
In what will be a crowd-pleasing and inevitably raucous guessing game, a series of close-up stock photos invite children to call out one of the titular alternatives. A page turn reveals answers and basic facts about each creature backed up by more of the latter in a closing map and table. Some of the posers, like the tail of an okapi or the nose on a proboscis monkey, are easy enough to guess—but the moist nose on a star-nosed mole really does look like an anus, and the false “eyes” on the hind ends of a Cuyaba dwarf frog and a Promethea moth caterpillar will fool many. Better yet, Lavelle saves a kicker for the finale with a glimpse of a small parasitical pearlfish peeking out of a sea cucumber’s rear so that the answer is actually face and butt. “Animal identification can be tricky!” she concludes, noting that many of the features here function as defenses against attack: “In the animal world, sometimes your butt will save your face and your face just might save your butt!” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A gleeful game for budding naturalists. (author’s note) (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: July 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781728271170
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
