A justly earnest call for concern.
Introductions to the four types of great apes, all of which are classed as endangered or even critically endangered.
Gudgeon lays on the charm with a trowel, characterizing the peaceable bonobos as “happy hippies” with “supercute” babies, chimpanzees as the “cool kids” on the ape family tree, orangutans as “our high-flying rainforest friends,” and gorillas as “gentle giants.” The many stock photos strongly follow suit—perhaps going overboard by kitting out some bonobos with images of party hats and captioning one photo of a baby orangutan with “as cute and fuzzy as you can get.” Elsewhere, appealing full-face close-ups mingle with views of cozy family groups or offspring with nurturing parents. The author expands his topic with a quick look at the species of gibbons classed as “lesser apes”; he goes on to briefly describe his chosen quartet’s general habits, ranges, and diets while carefully distinguishing each one’s regional variants or biological subspecies and discussing the devastating population drops caused by habitat loss and poaching. Gudgeon points to the use of tools in the wild and the language-learning abilities of individuals like Kanzi the bonobo and Koko the gorilla as signs of their rich intellectual and emotional intelligence. And, along with side profiles of Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall, and other great-ape advocates, he lauds a game preserve and other conservation efforts before closing with ways for concerned readers to add their support.
A justly earnest call for concern. (glossary, resource list, index) (Nonfiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025
ISBN: 9781459838109
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
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
An in-depth and visually pleasing look at one of the most fundamental forces in the universe.
An introduction to gravity.
The book opens with the most iconic demonstration of gravity, an apple falling. Throughout, Herz tackles both huge concepts—how gravity compresses atoms to form stars and how black holes pull all kinds of matter toward them—and more concrete ones: how gravity allows you to jump up and then come back down to the ground. Gravity narrates in spare yet lyrical verse, explaining how it creates planets and compresses atoms and comparing itself to a hug. “My embrace is tight enough that you don’t float like a balloon, but loose enough that you can run and leap and play.” Gravity personifies itself at times: “I am stubborn—the bigger things are, the harder I pull.” Beautiful illustrations depict swirling planets and black holes alongside racially diverse children playing, running, and jumping, all thanks to gravity. Thorough backmatter discusses how Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity and explains Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. While at times Herz’s explanations may be a bit too technical for some readers, burgeoning scientists will be drawn in.
An in-depth and visually pleasing look at one of the most fundamental forces in the universe. (Informational picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: April 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781668936849
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tilbury House
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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