Solid, appealing nonfiction for the younger set.
Home is where the heart is…and the bears, gorillas, raccoons, rabbits, anteaters, etc.
In this interesting, information-packed book, Judge brings home for younger readers facts about the kinds of dwellings a variety of mammals live in with their young. Each class of residence is introduced by a two-page spread featuring a simple sentence that identifies homes by general concepts rather than specific types or construction methods: “A home can be hidden”; “A home can cover many miles of open country”; “A home can be built by an architect”; “A home can be crowded”; and others. Following these openers are spreads that describe, in clear, instructive, well-written paragraphs, the actual, specific kinds of homes lived in and built by two or three different, relevant animals, as in the black bears’ den under a tree, the bobcats’ nest in a rocky crevice, and the porcupines’ home in a hollow log—all examples of “hidden.” In conclusion, the book equates animals’ needs for safety and shelter with those of humans. The paintings on the introductory spreads and text pages are true, endearing winners, depicting realistic, adorable, close-knit animal families in their homes and habitats. In the backmatter, enhancing the book’s appeal and usefulness, are additional facts about each animal named in the text, a glossary, sources, and websites.
Solid, appealing nonfiction for the younger set. (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 18, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62672-724-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
Another playful imagination-stretcher.
Markle invites children to picture themselves living in the homes of 11 wild animals.
As in previous entries in the series, McWilliam’s illustrations of a diverse cast of young people fancifully imitating wild creatures are paired with close-up photos of each animal in a like natural setting. The left side of one spread includes a photo of a black bear nestling in a cozy winter den, while the right side features an image of a human one cuddled up with a bear. On another spread, opposite a photo of honeybees tending to newly hatched offspring, a human “larva” lounges at ease in a honeycomb cell, game controller in hand, as insect attendants dish up goodies. A child with an eye patch reclines on an orb weaver spider’s web, while another wearing a head scarf constructs a castle in a subterranean chamber with help from mound-building termites. Markle adds simple remarks about each type of den, nest, or burrow and basic facts about its typical residents, then closes with a reassuring reminder to readers that they don’t have to live as animals do, because they will “always live where people live.” A select gallery of traditional homes, from igloo and yurt to mudhif, follows a final view of the young cast waving from a variety of differently styled windows.
Another playful imagination-stretcher. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781339049052
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet and endearing feathered migration.
A relationship between a Latina grandmother and her mixed-race granddaughter serves as the frame to depict the ruby-throated hummingbird migration pattern.
In Granny’s lap, a girl is encouraged to “keep still” as the intergenerational pair awaits the ruby-throated hummingbirds with bowls of water in their hands. But like the granddaughter, the tz’unun—“the word for hummingbird in several [Latin American] languages”—must soon fly north. Over the next several double-page spreads, readers follow the ruby-throated hummingbird’s migration pattern from Central America and Mexico through the United States all the way to Canada. Davies metaphorically reunites the granddaughter and grandmother when “a visitor from Granny’s garden” crosses paths with the girl in New York City. Ray provides delicately hashed lines in the illustrations that bring the hummingbirds’ erratic flight pattern to life as they travel north. The watercolor palette is injected with vibrancy by the addition of gold ink, mirroring the hummingbirds’ flashing feathers in the slants of light. The story is supplemented by notes on different pages with facts about the birds such as their nest size, diet, and flight schedule. In addition, a note about ruby-throated hummingbirds supplies readers with detailed information on how ornithologists study and keep track of these birds.
A sweet and endearing feathered migration. (bibliography, index) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0538-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
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