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ARBORAMA

THE MARVELOUS WORLD OF TREES

From the Marvelous World series

Chock-full of information, clearly and delightfully presented.

Inside the world of trees.

Published in Switzerland and translated from French, this title begins with the basics of what a tree is and what its essential parts—its leaves, fruit, cones, and seeds—do, followed by “Portraits,” a more in-depth look at 30 individual types of trees found in North America. These are grouped into three main habitats where they may most commonly be seen: towns, cities, and parks; forests and countryside; and forests and mountains. This approach is much more kid-friendly that grouping by taxonomy, since young readers will know what types of trees they may encounter in their own neighborhoods. Each portrait begins with an illustration of a mature example of the tree and some fun facts. The page turn gives more detail—type of bark, observation guide, similar trees, and images of what the tree looks like throughout the seasons. The presentation is the same for each species, with appealing gouachelike, full-color illustrations that are integral to the text. The portraits section is followed by tree identification tips and more information, such as how trees reproduce, their role in the forest ecosystem, and benefits to humans. Inevitably, the bad news comes—30% of all tree species globally are endangered—but the book assuages this dire information with a double-page spread on what readers can do to help.

Chock-full of information, clearly and delightfully presented. (educator's guide, index) (Nonfiction. 8-14)

Pub Date: April 11, 2023

ISBN: 9783907293904

Page Count: 208

Publisher: Helvetiq

Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023

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1001 BEES

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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FLASH FACTS

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

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