A truly stellar work that will delight bird enthusiasts while converting the ambivalent into eager avian investigators.
A charming oversize field guide that aims to transform young readers into “omnibird” detectives, encouraging them to investigate the fascinating world of birds through observation and deduction.
New Zealander Clarkson presents birding as an engaging mystery-solving adventure and introduces the concept of an “omnibird”—a universal bird template that helps readers identify and understand any species they encounter. The approach is refreshingly practical, moving beyond simple identification to explore bird behavior, anatomy, and ecology. What sets this guide apart is its perfect balance of scientific accuracy and playful humor. Clarkson’s colorful illustrations are particularly effective, combining detailed anatomical diagrams with whimsical touches—from cartoon speech bubbles revealing what birds might be thinking to amusing visual comparisons (like the fact that T. rex was an ancestor of modern birds). The substantial “Notes From 18 Investigations” section covers everything from duck behavior to owl anatomy, while practical “How To” sections will help hone concrete skills like spotting fledglings, holding chickens, and helping a bird find its way back outdoors. The book’s detective framework cleverly reframes birding as puzzle-solving rather than memorization, making it equally appealing to dedicated young ornithologists and reluctant nature observers. The thick, durable paper and eco-friendly vegetable ink printing enhance the detailed, delightful illustrations while demonstrating a genuine commitment to environmental values—a perfect complement to its nature-focused mission.
A truly stellar work that will delight bird enthusiasts while converting the ambivalent into eager avian investigators. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-13)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9798765670514
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both.
Flash, Batman, and other characters from the DC Comics universe tackle supervillains and STEM-related topics and sometimes, both.
Credited to 20 writers and illustrators in various combinations, the 10 episodes invite readers to tag along as Mera and Aquaman visit oceanic zones from epipelagic to hadalpelagic; Supergirl helps a young scholar pick a science-project topic by taking her on a tour of the solar system; and Swamp Thing lends Poison Ivy a hand to describe how DNA works (later joining Swamp Kid to scuttle a climate-altering scheme by Arcane). In other episodes, various costumed creations explain the ins and outs of diverse large- and small-scale phenomena, including electricity, atomic structure, forensic techniques, 3-D printing, and the lactate threshold. Presumably on the supposition that the characters will be more familiar to readers than the science, the minilectures tend to start from simple basics, but the figures are mostly both redrawn to look more childlike than in the comics and identified only in passing. Drawing styles and page designs differ from chapter to chapter but not enough to interrupt overall visual unity and flow—and the cast is sufficiently diverse to include roles for superheroes (and villains) of color like Cyborg, Kid Flash, and the Latina Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz. Appended lists of websites and science-based YouTube channels, plus instructions for homespun activities related to each episode, point inspired STEM-winders toward further discoveries.
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both. (Graphic nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-382-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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