Beginning at the beginning, 4.5 billion years ago, when the earth was nothing but a cloud of dust grains and gas whirring around the young sun, Patent (Bold and Bright Black-and-White Animals, 1998, etc.) discusses the shaping of the earth and the changes to it from that time to the present. This impressive introduction to earth science describes early and current theories about the origin of the earth and other planets, the formation of the moon, the layers of the earth's crust and core, plate tectonics, origins of life from deep sea vents, and continental drift. It describes volcanic action, earthquakes, glaciers, and the effects of wind, water, farming and industry on shaping the earth. Throughout, double-page spreads on blue paper provide related topics—e.g., how the Hawaiian Islands were formed; the devastation caused by tropical storm Hugo on the South Carolina Coast; or how beavers change the landscape with their dams. Handsomely presented, glossy pages, wide white borders, guide words in colored type, full color photographs, and many maps and drawings make the whole accessible to the reader. The author, a noted science writer concludes with a glossary, index, further reading and Web sites of interest. The latter provide extensive resources for students researching plate tectonics and other topics in earth science. (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: March 20, 2000
ISBN: 0-395-85691-4
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2000
Remarking that ``nothing about the weather is very simple,'' Simon goes on to describe how the sun, atmosphere, earth's rotation, ground cover, altitude, pollution, and other factors influence it; briefly, he also tells how weather balloons gather information. Even for this outstanding author, it's a tough, complex topic, and he's not entirely successful in simplifying it; moreover, the import of the striking uncaptioned color photos here isn't always clear. One passage—``Cumulus clouds sometimes build up into towering masses called cumulus congestus, or swelling cumulus, which may turn into cumulonimbus clouds''—is superimposed on a blue-gray, cloud-covered landscape. But which kind of clouds are these? Another photo, in blue-black and white, shows what might be precipitation in the upper atmosphere, or rain falling on a darkened landscape, or...? Generally competent and certainly attractive, but not Simon's best. (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-688-10546-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1993
A beautiful conservation story told in a rich setting and peopled with memorable characters.
Unlike the rest of her nature-obsessed family, Louisa wants to be a musician, not a biologist.
But when Louisa’s mother finds out that the Australian government is about to destroy the Tasmanian rainforest camp their family has managed for decades, she insists that Louisa leave Toronto and spend the summer on the strange, small island with her even stranger uncle Ruff. But when Uncle Ruff gives Louisa a copy of her great-grandmother’s journal, Louisa becomes fascinated with her family’s history of secretly protecting endangered species, including the mysterious Tasmanian tiger, widely regarded as extinct. With the help of her new friend and neighbor Colin—a boy who has autism spectrum disorder—Louisa deepens her connection with her family’s land, with history, and with her love of music. Kadarusman masterfully creates a lush, magical world where issues associated with conservation, neurodiversity, and history intersect in surprising and authentic ways. The book’s small cast of characters (principals seem all White) is well drawn and endearing. Crucially, the author acknowledges the original, Indigenous inhabitants of the land as experts, something rarely seen in books about environmental degradation. Louisa’s narratorial voice strikes the right balance of curiosity, timidity, and growing confidence, and her character’s transformation feels both incredibly natural and incredibly rewarding to behold.
A beautiful conservation story told in a rich setting and peopled with memorable characters. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: April 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77278-054-3
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Pajama Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020
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