A truly stellar work that will delight bird enthusiasts while converting the ambivalent into eager avian investigators.
A charming oversize field guide that aims to transform young readers into “omnibird” detectives, encouraging them to investigate the fascinating world of birds through observation and deduction.
New Zealander Clarkson presents birding as an engaging mystery-solving adventure and introduces the concept of an “omnibird”—a universal bird template that helps readers identify and understand any species they encounter. The approach is refreshingly practical, moving beyond simple identification to explore bird behavior, anatomy, and ecology. What sets this guide apart is its perfect balance of scientific accuracy and playful humor. Clarkson’s colorful illustrations are particularly effective, combining detailed anatomical diagrams with whimsical touches—from cartoon speech bubbles revealing what birds might be thinking to amusing visual comparisons (like the fact that T. rex was an ancestor of modern birds). The substantial “Notes From 18 Investigations” section covers everything from duck behavior to owl anatomy, while practical “How To” sections will help hone concrete skills like spotting fledglings, holding chickens, and helping a bird find its way back outdoors. The book’s detective framework cleverly reframes birding as puzzle-solving rather than memorization, making it equally appealing to dedicated young ornithologists and reluctant nature observers. The thick, durable paper and eco-friendly vegetable ink printing enhance the detailed, delightful illustrations while demonstrating a genuine commitment to environmental values—a perfect complement to its nature-focused mission.
A truly stellar work that will delight bird enthusiasts while converting the ambivalent into eager avian investigators. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-13)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9798765670514
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information.
Two youngsters embark on a journey peppered with history, trivia, and skits while teaching money lessons.
Meet Mellody and John, the young stars of this currency showcase. Their very first dialogue offers a taste of the intriguing information to come, from the ancient Mayans’ use of cacao beans as payment to the origins of the piggy bank. The book offers a chronologically and geographically broad timeline of the history of money, encompassing the past 3.9 billion years (starting with meteorite crashes that scattered metals—“the very first bank deposit”) and referencing practices across five continents. Readers will find themselves eagerly sharing the facts gleaned here, including the centuries-old origins of terms and expressions still used today. Mellody and John’s fun banter crucially reflects their experiences with money, such as their families’ differing attitudes toward allowances. Both are savers as well as givers, sharing stories about giving to charity. In one especially entertaining section, a cat and a bunny converse in money-related catchphrases that are separately defined at the bottom of each page. Stevens’ watercolors are appropriately realistic and appealing, whether depicting Mellody’s pretend bank or Elizabeth II’s butler ironing a 10-pound note. Messages about money’s use as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, ensure that readers will think about their own purposes for their savings. Mellody and John are Black.
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781536224719
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
