A solid introduction to some complicated science.
A nighttime hike offers an opportunity to learn more about the moon.
Within the framework of a parent-and-child outing, Wells introduces all kinds of moon-related information: its gravity pulls Earth’s tides; it’s been visited by both crewed and uncrewed missions; a collision between an asteroid and the Earth is thought to have formed the moon. Wells, the author of numerous science-related titles for primary-grade readers, also discusses the reasons why seasons occur, Earth’s metal core and magnetic shield, and tectonic plates as statements of scientific fact. Corrigan’s cheery, animation-style illustrations show a happy, brown-skinned parent and child walking with their dog through the woods to their destination, a beach bonfire where they roast marshmallows. Along the way, there are illustrations of the Earth and moon orbiting the sun, changing moon phases, the asteroid collision, and the tectonic plates of Earth’s crust. In some images, the child reappears, watching Galileo looking at the moon; appropriately suited, the child is seen exploring the moon, too. The science gets a little lost at times: The crescent moon is shown both waxing and waning in the course of the evening walk, and the frozen water molecules found on the moon are signified by a snowflake. While the pictures will appeal to younger children, the vocabulary is challenging; this might work best as a read-aloud by a scientifically literate caregiver. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A solid introduction to some complicated science. (glossary, selected sources) (Informational picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-8075-5275-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A gleeful game for budding naturalists.
Artfully cropped animal portraits challenge viewers to guess which end they’re seeing.
In what will be a crowd-pleasing and inevitably raucous guessing game, a series of close-up stock photos invite children to call out one of the titular alternatives. A page turn reveals answers and basic facts about each creature backed up by more of the latter in a closing map and table. Some of the posers, like the tail of an okapi or the nose on a proboscis monkey, are easy enough to guess—but the moist nose on a star-nosed mole really does look like an anus, and the false “eyes” on the hind ends of a Cuyaba dwarf frog and a Promethea moth caterpillar will fool many. Better yet, Lavelle saves a kicker for the finale with a glimpse of a small parasitical pearlfish peeking out of a sea cucumber’s rear so that the answer is actually face and butt. “Animal identification can be tricky!” she concludes, noting that many of the features here function as defenses against attack: “In the animal world, sometimes your butt will save your face and your face just might save your butt!” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A gleeful game for budding naturalists. (author’s note) (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: July 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781728271170
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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