A droll mix of science and silliness just right for a bedtime flight.
Who would guess that the wonders of outer space include not only stars and planets, but astro-dogs and cookies and milk?
Printed on heavy, coated stock that unfolds in stages into a wall hanging, this extraterrestrial flight of fancy features a rocket at its center with an enthralled child peering through a large porthole at a succession of marvels. These include but are not confined to ringed planets, a flaming meteor, the International Space Station, a grinning, green-skinned ET flashing a “peace” sign, a mouse nibbling on a ragged moon, and an astronaut calling in an order to a floating pizza parlor. Along with posing the question “Are cookies found in the Milky Way?” Riggs’ five-sentence narrative includes a “Greetings, Earthlings!” from the alien and an exuberant observation at the end: “Many worlds await beyond the stars!” Sheban casts a low, mysterious glow over his crowded starscape, too dim to determine the ethnic identities of his human figures but bright enough to make out, for instance, a pair of canine space travelers and the yummy snack (see above) suspended in space amid the shadowy planets and satellites.
A droll mix of science and silliness just right for a bedtime flight. (Novelty board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-56846-336-0
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Creative Editions/Creative Company
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series.
In this newest addition to the Baby Scientist series toddlers are introduced to the basics of what a botanist does.
The book starts with a simple and straightforward explanation of its subject matter: “Who studies plants? / Baby Botanist does!” Wearing a white lab coat with yellow polka dots, a brown-skinned child with a purple hair bow holding up its one little curl proceeds to present a number of simply stated and easily understood plant facts. As with the previous books, the illustrations are colorful, uncluttered, and humorously engaging, and baby has a sidekick; this time it is a blue-and-yellow snail. After planting a seed, Baby wonders what plant will grow. The text explains that some plants have roots and some do not, and they might grow on water or underground. In a simple acknowledgment of a healthy diet, the book states “Baby’s favorite foods all come from plants.” Children are also presented with food they may not recognize as coming from plants, such as noodles and chocolate. In the end, the seed that Baby has planted, watered, and kept in the sunlight “grows into a flower for Mama!” and with that comes a big thank-you hug from Mama.
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-06-284132-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: HarperFestival
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
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