by Helen Ahpornsiri ; illustrated by Helen Ahpornsiri ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2018
A book to savor and share throughout the year, this is sure to inspire budding naturalists and crafters.
A British-based Etsy artist known for intricate compositions with pressed flowers and leaves undertakes an exploration of seasons; her medium lends authenticity to the narrative.
Spring is the first of four chapters; the topics described and depicted in double-page spreads include bird song and mating, nest building, and the life cycles of frogs and butterflies. Reading the two to three paragraphs per page is like hiking with a relative who is both knowledgeable and passionate about the outdoors. Ahpornsiri incorporates less-frequently-discussed behaviors into her discussions, such as deer rutting and a mother duck’s transfer of waterproof oils to her babies to help them float. The captions are small, light, and feathery, making them a bit hard to read, but that is a minor flaw. The companionship of an adult reader for children up through age 8 would bridge the gap between the more complex (although clearly explained) concepts such as photosynthesis, prehensile tails, and deciduous trees and the captivating art that will attract a wide age range. Each animal is built into a delicate collage from precisely cut plant parts; the absence of visible outlines adds to the awe. The artist has an exquisite sense of page design, creating pleasing curves and patterns while employing plants and a palette particular to each season.
A book to savor and share throughout the year, this is sure to inspire budding naturalists and crafters. (glossary, artist’s note) (Nonfiction. 6-12)Pub Date: March 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9898-0
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Big Picture/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2018
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by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 18, 2021
Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere.
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
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by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak
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by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak
by Mellody Hobson ; illustrated by Caitlin Stevens ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2024
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information.
Two youngsters embark on a journey peppered with history, trivia, and skits while teaching money lessons.
Meet Mellody and John, the young stars of this currency showcase. Their very first dialogue offers a taste of the intriguing information to come, from the ancient Mayans’ use of cacao beans as payment to the origins of the piggy bank. The book offers a chronologically and geographically broad timeline of the history of money, encompassing the past 3.9 billion years (starting with meteorite crashes that scattered metals—“the very first bank deposit”) and referencing practices across five continents. Readers will find themselves eagerly sharing the facts gleaned here, including the centuries-old origins of terms and expressions still used today. Mellody and John’s fun banter crucially reflects their experiences with money, such as their families’ differing attitudes toward allowances. Both are savers as well as givers, sharing stories about giving to charity. In one especially entertaining section, a cat and a bunny converse in money-related catchphrases that are separately defined at the bottom of each page. Stevens’ watercolors are appropriately realistic and appealing, whether depicting Mellody’s pretend bank or Elizabeth II’s butler ironing a 10-pound note. Messages about money’s use as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, ensure that readers will think about their own purposes for their savings. Mellody and John are Black.
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781536224719
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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