An authoritative tribute to Indigenous knowledge systems that's a must-have for every library and classroom.
Indigenous knowledge and modern science are braided together in this fascinating book.
Yellowhorn and Lowinger capably demonstrate how Indigenous knowledge systems developed over the course of history on the basis of practical application and Indigenous peoples’ lived experiences. Through oral transmission, knowledge has been passed down through the generations by ancestors who had a vast understanding of the natural world. “Everything is connected. The world is a gift. The sacred is a vital part of knowing. We are always learning.” Earth science and Native lore come together to explain how human beings looked to the land, the sky, animals, and plants as a means to survive and understand our existence. Some of the book’s subsections describe pivotal historical events, while others look at celebrations and ceremonies, such as the Navajo fire dance, to show how Indigenous peoples share traditional knowledge. Today, Indigenous peoples keep this knowledge alive by using it to inform modern approaches in fields such as water conservation, medicine, astronomy, food science, and more. This rich and informative text is interspersed with engaging traditional stories that underscore the expository nonfiction material. Sidebars highlight influential Indigenous figures and important concepts. With beautiful photography and illustrations, this browsable book drives home the importance of caring for the natural environment and suggests the best methods to do so.
An authoritative tribute to Indigenous knowledge systems that's a must-have for every library and classroom. (glossary, selected reading, sources, index) (Nonfiction. 11-adult)Pub Date: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-77321-629-4
Page Count: 120
Publisher: Annick Press
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Erupt into applause for this picture book of the first magma-tude.
A deceptively simple, visually appealing, comprehensive explanation of volcanoes.
Gibbons packs an impressive number of facts into this browsable nonfiction picture book. The text begins with the awe of a volcanic eruption: “The ground begins to rumble…ash, hot lava and rock, and gases shoot up into the air.” Diagrams of the Earth’s structural layers—inner and outer core, mantle, and crust—undergird a discussion about why volcanoes occur. Simple maps of the Earth’s seven major tectonic plates show where volcanoes are likeliest to develop. Other spreads with bright, clearly labeled illustrations cover intriguing subtopics: four types of volcanoes and how they erupt; underwater volcanoes; well-known volcanoes and historic volcanic eruptions around the world; how to be safe in the vicinity of a volcano; and the work of scientists studying volcanoes and helping to predict eruptions. A page of eight facts about volcanoes wraps things up. The straightforward, concise prose will be easy for young readers to follow. As always, Gibbons manages to present a great deal of information in a compact form.
Erupt into applause for this picture book of the first magma-tude. (Nonfiction picture book. 4-9)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4569-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
A lyrical and educational look at the water cycle.
Through many types of weather and the different seasons, water tells readers about its many forms.
“Sometimes I’m the rain cloud / and sometimes I’m the rain.” Water can make rainbows and can appear to be different colors. Water is a waterfall, a wave, an ocean swell, a frozen pond, the snow on your nose, a cloud, frost, a comet, a part of you. Throughout, Paterson’s rhyming verses evoke images of their own: “Soon the summer sun is back / and warms me with its rays. / I rise in rumbling thunderheads / like castles in the haze,” though at times word order seems to have been chosen for rhyme rather than meaning (“In fall I sink into a fog / and blanket chilly fields, / with pumpkins touched by morning frost / the harvest season yields”). Backmatter includes a diagram of the water cycle that introduces and describes each step with solid vocabulary, including “Collection” as a step in the process; “The Science Behind the Poetry,” which unpacks some of the poetic language and phrases; some water activities and explorations; conservation tips; and a list of other books from the publisher about water. Paterson’s full- and double-page–spread illustrations are just as magical as his verse, showing water in its many forms from afar and close up. Few people appear on his pages, but the vast majority of those are people of color.
A lyrical and educational look at the water cycle. (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-58469-615-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dawn Publications
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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