by Linda Vieira & illustrated by Higgins Bond ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2003
The illustrations in this sweeping tour of the world’s oceans provide more atmosphere than information, and so does the text. Confusingly using the old term “Seven Seas” without explanation to encompass all of Earth’s “oceans, seas, and gulfs,” Vieira takes readers to each ocean, plus the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, tucking in quick references to the likes of Columbus, Cousteau, and Robert Ballard; the Panama and Suez Canals; oceanic flora, fauna, industry, and pollution, then closing with warnings that, for our “betterment,” we should exploit marine resources more efficiently. Along with this moot idea, Vieira conveys the impression that only European explorers crossed the Indian Ocean, and her blithe claim that “by 1800, all surface areas of the world ocean had been explored” ignores the search for the Northwest Passage, which went on for another half century. The illustrations are a busy mix of insets floating over rolling vistas of waves or deep blue undersea scenes. Perhaps it’s just too vast an array of topics to cover in 32 pages. Titles with a narrower focus, such as G. Brian Karas’s Atlantic (2002) convey a clearer sense of the oceans’ size, diverse biota, and importance. (glossary, maps) (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: April 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-8027-8833-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2003
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by Emily Calandrelli & Tamson Weston ; illustrated by Renée Kurilla ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 29, 2017
The story feels a bit contrived, but Ada will be a welcome addition to the small circle of science-loving girls in the...
Using science and technology, third-grader Ada Lace kicks off her new series by solving a mystery even with her leg in a cast.
Temporarily housebound after a badly executed bungee jump, Ada uses binoculars to document the ecosystem of her new neighborhood in San Francisco. She records her observations in a field journal, a project that intrigues new friend Nina, who lives nearby. When they see that Ms. Reed’s dog, Marguerite, is missing, they leap to the conclusion that it has been stolen. Nina does the legwork and Ada provides the technology for their search for the dognapper. Story-crafting takes a back seat to scene-setting in this series kickoff that introduces the major players. As part of the series formula, science topics and gadgetry are integrated into the stories and further explained in a “Behind the Science” afterword. This installment incorporates drones, a wireless camera, gecko gloves, and the Turing test as well as the concept of an ecosystem. There are no ethnic indicators in the text, but the illustrations reveal that Ada, her family, and bratty neighbor Milton are white; Nina appears to be Southeast Asian; and Mr. Peebles, an inventor who lives nearby, is black.
The story feels a bit contrived, but Ada will be a welcome addition to the small circle of science-loving girls in the chapter-book world. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-8599-9
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
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by Anne Miranda & illustrated by Anne Miranda ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999
Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201835-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
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