A surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world.
Imagine being bioluminescent like the living creatures that make their own light in the dark of night and ocean depths.
With a two-level text and illustrations that almost seem to glow, Kuo presents the phenomenon of bioluminescence to younger readers and listeners through the imagined explorations of a parent and child who are tan-skinned and dark-haired and outlined in tan. On black (or, once, deep blue) spreads, shades of orange and blue define the living things on the pages. The parent and child explore the woods at night, travel by boat (even into a cave), and imagine swimming in the ocean. They discover fungi, glowworms, and a variety of sea creatures that use their abilities to make their own light for different purposes. The humans’ facial expressions reflect their pleasure. Page turns indicate each change of focus and lead readers further into the exploration. The simple, poetic text and striking images make for an effective group read-aloud. Most spreads also include more extensive information in a short expository paragraph in a smaller font. Here Kuo introduces and defines concepts such as energy, bioluminescence, camouflage, dinoflagellates, biodiversity, and even light pollution. Kuo concludes with a powerful exhortation to readers: “So always look, / really look, // when it’s dark out.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world. (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-77164-888-2
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute.
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character.
Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781683693864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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.
