An artful, horizon-expanding introduction to our “living home."
A shaped survey of Earth’s lands, seas, seasons, weather, and biomes.
The book is printed on sturdy stock and cut in a half-circle perched on a base so that it opens into snow globe–shaped leaves and can then be displayed in the round. The flyover offers young armchair travelers a series of eye-catching vistas ranging from “forests tall. // And grasslands wide” to “Continents large, islands small, / Salty seas surrounding all.” Interspersed descriptive notes in much smaller type and plainly addressed to an older audience go into general detail about each stop along the way. Feng’s soft focus natural scenes offer plenty of animals but no humans to see aside from an opening glimpse of a pair of snorkelers angled away from viewers and a few minute figures later on. All of the scenes (a line about how some grassland creatures eat grass and some “eat other grassland creatures!” notwithstanding) have a serene, peaceable-kingdom vibe. The point of view broadens at last to a map showing labeled continents and larger bodies of water, then a more distant view of our planet in space precedes a final cozy house beneath a starry sky, which serves as a reminder that our planet is: “a living home for everyone.
An artful, horizon-expanding introduction to our “living home." (Informational novelty board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-83866-081-9
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Phaidon
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series.
In this newest addition to the Baby Scientist series toddlers are introduced to the basics of what a botanist does.
The book starts with a simple and straightforward explanation of its subject matter: “Who studies plants? / Baby Botanist does!” Wearing a white lab coat with yellow polka dots, a brown-skinned child with a purple hair bow holding up its one little curl proceeds to present a number of simply stated and easily understood plant facts. As with the previous books, the illustrations are colorful, uncluttered, and humorously engaging, and baby has a sidekick; this time it is a blue-and-yellow snail. After planting a seed, Baby wonders what plant will grow. The text explains that some plants have roots and some do not, and they might grow on water or underground. In a simple acknowledgment of a healthy diet, the book states “Baby’s favorite foods all come from plants.” Children are also presented with food they may not recognize as coming from plants, such as noodles and chocolate. In the end, the seed that Baby has planted, watered, and kept in the sunlight “grows into a flower for Mama!” and with that comes a big thank-you hug from Mama.
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-06-284132-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: HarperFestival
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
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