A well-researched, visually impressive informational treat.
Fascinating photos and interesting illustrations take center stage in this fun, fact-filled book.
A colorful, appealingly organized, and straightforward table of contents describes the six high-interest subjects the book covers—the body, machines and buildings, wild animals, bugs, Earth, and space—immediately signaling to readers that they can enjoy the information within in myriad ways. Longer segments that answer questions like “How do touchscreens work?” and “How do we know what extinct creatures looked like?” allow learners to gain a more in-depth understanding of a range of subjects. Many pages include a text bubble that presents a “wacky fact,” a fascinating tidbit designed to engage and impress—for example, that scientists once found a suit of armor in a shark’s stomach—which is a clever way to help readers retain information. For those with shorter attention spans, “Tell me how…NOW!” spreads provide quick answers to burning questions, such as “How many times do people pass gas in a day?” The informal language and kid-friendly phrasing make the facts feel like thrilling wisdom passed between friends on the playground, and the numerous references to poop will delight many readers. Stunning photographs interspersed among the charming illustrations and clear scientific diagrams add greatly to the overall appeal. The photos and artwork portray a racially diverse array of people.
A well-researched, visually impressive informational treat. (glossary, index, source notes, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 5-10)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781804661192
Page Count: 256
Publisher: What on Earth Books
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
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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