Art, text, and layout create a pleasing combination for a science shelf or a coffee table.
The introduction accurately states that “this book shines a light on a few of the extraordinary creatures that live beneath the waves.”
The Table of Contents, in large type over a watery background that sports a few sea creatures, lists five sections, including “In the Shallows,” “Coral Gardens,” and “Into the Deep.” Each section contains double-page spreads of dramatic artwork—often of images of blown-up microscopy—that cannot help but draw readers in. Has a 1/8-inch daphnia ever looked so winsome, or have fish gills ever seemed so beautiful? The format of the text is clear and accessible. Each spread’s organism—or group of organisms—shows a common name, Latin name, size, and brief description. There follow a few short paragraphs with more information, some of which emphasize the importance of all members of ecosystems: “Herbivores like the parrotfish help to prevent the reef from becoming choked by algae.” Readers will recognize a few of the highlighted creatures, but it is refreshing to find so many less-than-popular organisms getting some attention. In fact, there are no pages devoted to marine mammals, which arguably also live beneath the waves. Such terms as “bioluminescent,” “polyps,” and “symbiotic” have adequate explanations, but others, including “cephalopod,” “crustacean,” and “prehensile,” may have readers searching in vain for a glossary.
Art, text, and layout create a pleasing combination for a science shelf or a coffee table. (selected bibliography) (Informational picture book. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9839-3
Page Count: 90
Publisher: Big Picture/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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