While there is plenty of good information here, the too-busy design, the jumble of images, and the long text skew this...
Youngsters can chart the growth of a sunflower, from seed to bloom.
An unseen narrator (except for a pair of hands with a beige complexion) wonders what a handful of striped seeds will grow into. Readers see one of these seeds sprout, grow roots, and emerge from the soil of a small pot. Next the plant is transferred outside to a garden where it can grow large and blossom. The last double-page spread shows the full life cycle of a sunflower from seed to flower on the verso, while the recto includes a 10-word glossary, rare for the format. The text, printed in a distractingly wavy typeface, is a mishmash of perky narration, captions, and prompts encouraging youngsters to explore the scenes more deeply. The overbusy illustrations work best when they present a cross section to allow readers to observe the sunflower’s root system. Some of the artwork, which is an odd mix of cartoons, near-realistic computer-generated images, and photos, looks incongruous, presenting cartoon leaves and clip-art–like ladybugs atop photos of flowers. Why the creators chose to go with this visual hash when DK’s wealth of clear and beautiful photography is at their disposal is baffling.
While there is plenty of good information here, the too-busy design, the jumble of images, and the long text skew this offering beyond the grasp of core board-book readers. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4654-7259-5
Page Count: 18
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
Captivating—and not a bit terrifying.
Catering to young scientists, naturalists, and Shark Week fans–to-be, this visually arresting volume presents a good deal of information in easily digested bites.
Like others in the Block Books series, this book feels both compact and massive. When closed, it is 5.5 inches across, 6.5 inches tall, and nearly 2 inches thick, weighty and solid, with stiff cardboard pages that boast creative die cuts and numerous fold-out three- and four-panel tableaux. While it’s possible it’s not the only book with a dorsal fin, it certainly must be among the best. The multiracial cast of aquarium visitors includes a Sikh man with his kids and a man of color who uses a wheelchair; there they discover the dramatic degree of variations among sharks. The book begins with a trip to a shark exhibit, complete with a megalodon jaw. The text points out that there are over 400 known types of sharks alive today, then introduces 18 examples, including huge whale sharks, tiny pocket sharks, and stealthy, well-camouflaged wobbegongs. Reef sharks prowl the warm waters of the surface, while sand tiger sharks explore shipwrecks on the ocean floor. Bioluminescent catsharks reside at the bottom of an inky black flap that folds down, signifying the deepest ocean depths, where no sunlight penetrates. Great whites get star treatment with four consecutive two-page spreads; their teeth and appetite impress but don’t horrify. The book does a wonderful job of highlighting the interconnectedness of species and the importance of environmental stewardship.
Captivating—and not a bit terrifying. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4119-7
Page Count: 84
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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