An informative and engaging introduction to an animal known as the old man of the sea.
In the ocean off the coast of southern California, a sea otter’s life unfolds.
In this latest installment of the Secret Life series, Pringle and Garchinsky follow the familiar, successful pattern of their previous books, looking closely at an individual animal to learn about the habits and habitat of the species in general. Here, a sea otter named Lutris (after her scientific name) rests, feeds, escapes a predatory shark, bears and raises a pup, and survives a storm. The storyline is straightforward, but there are suspenseful moments followed by relief and calm. The narrative begins and ends with a comfortable nap in the rocking sea waves. The rich, descriptive language would be a pleasure to read aloud. Some specialized vocabulary is italicized, defined in context and in a closing glossary. Digitally created impressionistic illustrations, set full-bleed, mostly on double-page spreads, support the story beautifully and would show well to a small group. There are close-ups of Lutris wielding a stone as a tool and landscapes that include other creatures who share her world, kelp, waves, and coastal mountains. In an afterword aimed at adults, Pringle offers further details about this keystone species once threatened with extinction. Pair with Jonathan London and Meilo So’s Otters Love To Play (2016) to introduce children to sea otters’ land-dwelling cousins. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An informative and engaging introduction to an animal known as the old man of the sea. (Informational picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: April 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-63592-325-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Wordsong/Astra Books for Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
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
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