A well-crafted blend of art and science that will spark curiosity about our feathered neighbors.
Hillenbrand invites young readers to discover the fascinating world of avian life.
Structured around 15 North American species—from the familiar northern cardinal to the majestic sandhill crane—this picture book balances natural history with visual appeal. Hillenbrand’s textured, layered artwork brings each bird to vivid life: The cardinal’s brilliant crimson plumage practically glows against a snowy branch, while the eastern bluebird’s azure feathers demonstrate the physics of light refraction through a clever infographic showing how “only blue escapes; the feather captures all other colors.” An image of a brown pelican, rendered in soft grays and tans, emphasizes the bird’s grace. Each species profile includes measurements, habitat information, and conservation concerns, presented through child-friendly text that answers questions like “Why do woodpeckers drum?” and “Why are feathers so light?” Diagrams and scale comparisons enhance comprehension without overwhelming. In the backmatter, Hillenbrand describes his artistic technique—using cut paper and paint to create dimensional birds—as well as his desire to find “shapes within shapes” when he creates. Offering individual profiles, thematic explorations, and practical resources, the book encourages both browsing and deeper engagement, while the author’s note reveals that the work began as a series of illustrations sent to a friend recuperating from an illness.
A well-crafted blend of art and science that will spark curiosity about our feathered neighbors. (online resources) (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780823462551
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
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 well-meaning but lackluster tribute.
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character.
Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781683693864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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