Charmingly illustrated and beautifully written but lacking in Indigenous human context.
An introduction to the animal and plant life of the vast grasslands of the Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In Bulion’s latest blend of science and poetry, the Serengeti’s complex ecosystem is described, from the impressive migrations of large mammals to the roles played by the smallest insects. Beginning and ending with a brief overview of the region, each two-page spread features a four-line verse inspired by the Swahili poetic form utendi with accompanying factual information. Alongside zebras, giraffes, and cheetahs, readers encounter dik-diks, waste paper flowers, secretary birds, and black mambas. The poems are scientifically informative (“wildebeests feast on shorter swards / oxpecker birds are stowaboards”), evocative (“butterflies flutter at nectar wells”), and a delight to read (“low-ground growth is nimbly used, / fleet gazelles nibble gnu-mown grass”). Another highlight is the thoughtful detail in the expressive paintings conveying the dynamism of both the land and the animals; Stadtlander is especially gifted at portraying the beauty of the Serengeti at various times of day. Bulion’s closing note briefly touches upon numerous threats to the Serengeti’s ecosystem including climate change, tourism, domestic crops and livestock, poaching, and road construction. Unfortunately, the Indigenous Maasai are largely omitted from this account; a reference to the negative impact of human population growth is not given sufficient context and may feed into controversial notions of overpopulation.
Charmingly illustrated and beautifully written but lacking in Indigenous human context. (note on poetry, glossary, organizations, further reading, map) (Informational poetry. 7-11)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-68263-191-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2022
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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