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FRANK, WHO LIKED TO BUILD

Name: FRANK, WHO LIKED TO BUILD
Author: Deborah Blumenthal
ISBN: 978-1-5415-9762-4

THE ARCHITECTURE OF FRANK GEHRY

by Deborah Blumenthal ; illustrated by Maria Brzozowska ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2022

An uneven tribute to a visionary artist.

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This biography presents Frank Gehry’s singular contributions to the field of architecture.

Blumenthal’s descriptions of Gehry’s designs are evocative and alliterative: “Imagine a building with sloping silver skin that seems to shiver in the wind” or a building with “billowy blanket walls big enough to hide a family of dinosaurs.” The text provides specific descriptions of how Gehry’s love for architecture fit into his life. For instance, we read that when he was a boy, his grandmother gave him pieces of wood meant for the wood stove. Inspired, young Gehry (described as a “dreamer”) created imaginary cities and worlds, leaving his parents unimpressed (something which lingered with him his entire life). Unfortunately, the jewel-toned illustrations fall short of capturing Gehry’s unique vision. The book closes with six photographs of buildings that Gehry designed, and the illustrations that precede the photos do not manage to capture the spirit of Gehry’s beautifully odd feats of architecture. The greatest tribute to Gehry, after all, may be to say that his buildings are indescribable. The text includes Gehry’s struggles with antisemitism during his time in Canada and Los Angeles—and his subsequent decision to change his Jewish surname—and his globe-trotting assignments. Some readers may kvetch that the book never really clarifies whether Gehry is dead or alive. Gehry and his family are White. One crowd scene shows people as varied as the colors in his architecture.

An uneven tribute to a visionary artist. (biographical note) (Picture book biography. 5-10)

Pub Date: March 1, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5415-9762-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kar-Ben

Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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VIOLET VELVET MITTENS WITH EVERYTHING
by Deborah Blumenthal ; illustrated by Rachel Katstaller

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SAVING STELLA
by Bassel Abou Fakher & Deborah Blumenthal ; illustrated by Nadine Kaadan

- BOOK REVIEW
PARROTS, PUGS, AND PIXIE DUST
by Deborah Blumenthal ; illustrated by Masha D'yans

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1001 BEES

by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 18, 2021

Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
1001 BIRDS
by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak

- BOOK REVIEW
1001 ANTS
by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak

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I AM GRAVITY

by Henry Herz ; illustrated by Mercè López ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2024

An in-depth and visually pleasing look at one of the most fundamental forces in the universe.

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An introduction to gravity.

The book opens with the most iconic demonstration of gravity, an apple falling. Throughout, Herz tackles both huge concepts—how gravity compresses atoms to form stars and how black holes pull all kinds of matter toward them—and more concrete ones: how gravity allows you to jump up and then come back down to the ground. Gravity narrates in spare yet lyrical verse, explaining how it creates planets and compresses atoms and comparing itself to a hug. “My embrace is tight enough that you don’t float like a balloon, but loose enough that you can run and leap and play.” Gravity personifies itself at times: “I am stubborn—the bigger things are, the harder I pull.” Beautiful illustrations depict swirling planets and black holes alongside racially diverse children playing, running, and jumping, all thanks to gravity. Thorough backmatter discusses how Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity and explains Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. While at times Herz’s explanations may be a bit too technical for some readers, burgeoning scientists will be drawn in.

An in-depth and visually pleasing look at one of the most fundamental forces in the universe. (Informational picture book. 7-9)