A simple introduction to a fascinating topic but with rather wishy-washy illustrations.
The supernova of 1054 C.E. is illuminated.
In 1054 C.E., a light brighter than any star was seen. The book implies that we know about this phenomenon today because it was noted and recorded in China (though this isn’t explicitly stated in the text). The light from the supernova eventually faded from sight. Centuries later, the telescope was invented, allowing astronomers to extend their vision into deep space. And what they saw was a large mass of gas and dust that they named the Crab Nebula for its resemblance to the crustacean. Turns out, the Crab Nebula consists of the remains of the supernova of 1054. Using simple language, Gladstone competently explains this phenomenon—from its sighting nearly 1,000 years ago to its rediscovery as a nebula—although inquisitive readers may be left with unanswered questions: Why don’t all stars end up as supernovas? How do elements in the exploding stars contribute to life? This is not necessarily an omission, since the wonder and awe inspired by the supernova may spur children to further explore the topic. The illustrations, however, all double-page spreads in rather unexciting colors, have a mostly unvaried, straight-on perspective that doesn’t do much to enhance the narrative. Though characters in earlier scenes are Chinese, those in later ones are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A simple introduction to a fascinating topic but with rather wishy-washy illustrations. (information on supernovas, photo) (Informational picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-77147-498-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Parent-child love and affection, appealingly presented, with the added attraction of the seasonal content and lack of gender...
A polar-bear parent speaks poetically of love for a child.
A genderless adult and cub travel through the landscapes of an arctic year. Each of the softly rendered double-page paintings has a very different feel and color palette as the pair go through the seasons, walking through wintry ice and snow and green summer meadows, cavorting in the blue ocean, watching whales, and playing beside musk oxen. The rhymes of the four-line stanzas are not forced, as is the case too often in picture books of this type: “When cold, winter winds / blow the leaves far and wide, / You’ll cross the great icebergs / with me by your side.” On a dark, snowy night, the loving parent says: “But for now, cuddle close / while the stars softly shine. // I’ll always be yours, / and you’ll always be mine.” As the last illustration shows the pair curled up for sleep, young listeners will be lulled to sweet dreams by the calm tenor of the pictures and the words. While far from original, this timeless theme is always in demand, and the combination of delightful illustrations and poetry that scans well make this a good choice for early-childhood classrooms, public libraries, and one-on-one home read-alouds.
Parent-child love and affection, appealingly presented, with the added attraction of the seasonal content and lack of gender restrictions. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-68010-070-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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