A lovely aural and visual introduction to some of nature’s miracles.
What’s more magical than nature?
Six brief, charming verses and colorful, endearing illustrations offer up a world of wonderment in familiar surroundings as well as simple, easily digestible information to young readers: A butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, dew forms and evaporates, birds greet the dawn with song, a bee goes about its vital pollination work, a chick hatches, and a spider weaves an intricate, ingenious web. Children are given the opportunity to witness these familiar but no less thrilling phenomena up-close and personal, in the here and now, not only surprising them with the natural world’s amazements, but also reminding them to revel in and be mindful of the wonders as they’re occurring in the moment—hence the Slow Down admonition in the book’s title. Each natural-world miracle in this sweet board book, a British import, is delivered in a two-page spread, with a rhyme on the verso page and intimate pen-and-ink and digitally colored illustrations presented in panels on the recto page. Several words in each rhyme are set in a larger, boldface font with capital letters. The lilting rhymes scan well and benefit from being read aloud. Apart from youngsters enjoying listening to and learning from these delightful rhymes, they can be encouraged to suggest other natural phenomena that fascinate them and then illustrate their ideas. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A lovely aural and visual introduction to some of nature’s miracles. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6147-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Magic Cat
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
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
Captivating—and not a bit terrifying.
Catering to young scientists, naturalists, and Shark Week fans–to-be, this visually arresting volume presents a good deal of information in easily digested bites.
Like others in the Block Books series, this book feels both compact and massive. When closed, it is 5.5 inches across, 6.5 inches tall, and nearly 2 inches thick, weighty and solid, with stiff cardboard pages that boast creative die cuts and numerous fold-out three- and four-panel tableaux. While it’s possible it’s not the only book with a dorsal fin, it certainly must be among the best. The multiracial cast of aquarium visitors includes a Sikh man with his kids and a man of color who uses a wheelchair; there they discover the dramatic degree of variations among sharks. The book begins with a trip to a shark exhibit, complete with a megalodon jaw. The text points out that there are over 400 known types of sharks alive today, then introduces 18 examples, including huge whale sharks, tiny pocket sharks, and stealthy, well-camouflaged wobbegongs. Reef sharks prowl the warm waters of the surface, while sand tiger sharks explore shipwrecks on the ocean floor. Bioluminescent catsharks reside at the bottom of an inky black flap that folds down, signifying the deepest ocean depths, where no sunlight penetrates. Great whites get star treatment with four consecutive two-page spreads; their teeth and appetite impress but don’t horrify. The book does a wonderful job of highlighting the interconnectedness of species and the importance of environmental stewardship.
Captivating—and not a bit terrifying. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4119-7
Page Count: 84
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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