A too-large scope and dull treatment scuttle this effort
This sturdy informational book for middle graders examines 10 areas of the natural and human worlds: ocean, homes, earth and space, landmarks, nature, everyday objects, buildings, fruits and vegetables, animals, and transportation.
Exterior views of a dozen or so objects in each category are illustrated on double-page spreads, and a gatefold on each page reveals the corresponding interior view of the objects. Brief captions offer tantalizing facts, but further research will be needed to fill out the picture. Some of the descriptions are too technical for the space available, and some of the information is inaccurate or insufficiently explained—the organ is the “king of instruments,” for instance, not the piano. The descriptions of the internal combustion engine and hovercraft fail to convey how these devices actually work. There is no mention of hybrid or electric vehicles and no comment on saving energy, surprising omissions. Humans are routinely referred to as “man.” These factors contribute to a generally dry, dated appearance, in contrast to other books that do not attempt to be so comprehensive but show dramatic cutaways of vehicles and processes, David Macaulay's work being the gold standard in this area. Each topic is illustrated by a different artist, with credit given in context.
A too-large scope and dull treatment scuttle this effort . (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-944530-02-0
Page Count: 28
Publisher: 360 Degrees
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both.
Flash, Batman, and other characters from the DC Comics universe tackle supervillains and STEM-related topics and sometimes, both.
Credited to 20 writers and illustrators in various combinations, the 10 episodes invite readers to tag along as Mera and Aquaman visit oceanic zones from epipelagic to hadalpelagic; Supergirl helps a young scholar pick a science-project topic by taking her on a tour of the solar system; and Swamp Thing lends Poison Ivy a hand to describe how DNA works (later joining Swamp Kid to scuttle a climate-altering scheme by Arcane). In other episodes, various costumed creations explain the ins and outs of diverse large- and small-scale phenomena, including electricity, atomic structure, forensic techniques, 3-D printing, and the lactate threshold. Presumably on the supposition that the characters will be more familiar to readers than the science, the minilectures tend to start from simple basics, but the figures are mostly both redrawn to look more childlike than in the comics and identified only in passing. Drawing styles and page designs differ from chapter to chapter but not enough to interrupt overall visual unity and flow—and the cast is sufficiently diverse to include roles for superheroes (and villains) of color like Cyborg, Kid Flash, and the Latina Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz. Appended lists of websites and science-based YouTube channels, plus instructions for homespun activities related to each episode, point inspired STEM-winders toward further discoveries.
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both. (Graphic nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-382-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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