An unforgettable encounter that will spark a lifelong fascination with these extraordinary beings.
An extraordinary collaboration that follows the epic migration of humpback whales.
Originally published in Colombia, this work follows the marine mammals on their 8,300-kilometer (5,150-mile) journey from Antarctica’s Gerlache Strait to the Pacific coast of Colombia. Muñoz Toro and Dipacho worked with several whale researchers to ensure scientific accuracy while maintaining the story’s narrative appeal. The text weaves factual information with storytelling elements, using analogies to make complex science accessible to young readers; whales preparing for migration are described as “packing a suitcase,” while their communication is compared to an “oceanic voice that’s intermittent, like the light from a lighthouse blinking in the dark.” Dipacho’s artwork creates moments of visual poetry, from a close-up of a whale tinged with deep blues to striking black pages depicting a whale’s death. Muñoz Toro acknowledges the limits of human knowledge with refreshing honesty, noting that “very little is known about the mating behavior of humpback whales” because “it happens very quickly,” while males may sing elaborate songs “perhaps just because they can.” Even readers initially indifferent to marine life will find themselves captivated by these creatures, whose epic journeys mirror our own need for home and connection yet whose deepest mysteries remain beautifully unsolved. This is not a book to rush through, but rather one to return to repeatedly, as each reading reveals more layers about migration patterns, whale behavior, and marine ecosystems.
An unforgettable encounter that will spark a lifelong fascination with these extraordinary beings. (Informational picture book. 8-14)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780802856432
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
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
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information.
Two youngsters embark on a journey peppered with history, trivia, and skits while teaching money lessons.
Meet Mellody and John, the young stars of this currency showcase. Their very first dialogue offers a taste of the intriguing information to come, from the ancient Mayans’ use of cacao beans as payment to the origins of the piggy bank. The book offers a chronologically and geographically broad timeline of the history of money, encompassing the past 3.9 billion years (starting with meteorite crashes that scattered metals—“the very first bank deposit”) and referencing practices across five continents. Readers will find themselves eagerly sharing the facts gleaned here, including the centuries-old origins of terms and expressions still used today. Mellody and John’s fun banter crucially reflects their experiences with money, such as their families’ differing attitudes toward allowances. Both are savers as well as givers, sharing stories about giving to charity. In one especially entertaining section, a cat and a bunny converse in money-related catchphrases that are separately defined at the bottom of each page. Stevens’ watercolors are appropriately realistic and appealing, whether depicting Mellody’s pretend bank or Elizabeth II’s butler ironing a 10-pound note. Messages about money’s use as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, ensure that readers will think about their own purposes for their savings. Mellody and John are Black.
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781536224719
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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