First published in Spain, this entry from Llamas Ruiz (Seasons, p. 464) in the Cycles of Life series explores the concept and process of metamorphosis primarily through a focus on the growth and development of frogs, butterflies, and dragonflies. In a metamorphosis-made-easy approach, colorfully illustrated spreads cover courtship rituals, the laying of eggs, emergence from the eggs, and newly hatched creatures who are vastly different from their parents. The complete process can be viewed for tadpoles, caterpillars, and larvae of dragonflies, while moths, mosquitoes, flat fish, newts, and salamanders get passing coverage. A body of text explains each stage in general terms; captions are used for the details of particular creatures. While the presentation is attractive and eye-catching, the arrangement of material is choppy. In order to make parallel the stages and similarities of various animals that undergo metamorphosis, the step-by-step presentations of the individual frog, butterfly, and dragonfly are broken up; readers seeking information on a particular animal will have to jump back and forth. The layout is a bit confusing in places—captions aren't easily matched to the illustrations, and one—about butterflies mating—stops mid-word. Difficult words—amplexus, pheromones, ocelli, neoteny—are explained either in context or in a short glossary, but not consistently. Nevertheless, the dramatic transformations from larvae to insect or tadpole to frog will be of interest to budding biologists. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: April 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-8069-9325-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1997
Simple, bella, un regalo permenente: simple and beautiful, a gift that will stay.
Renowned Latin American writer Alvarez has created another story about cultural identity, but this time the primary character is 11-year-old Miguel Guzmán.
When Tía Lola arrives to help the family, Miguel and his hermana, Juanita, have just moved from New York City to Vermont with their recently divorced mother. The last thing Miguel wants, as he's trying to fit into a predominantly white community, is a flamboyant aunt who doesn't speak a word of English. Tía Lola, however, knows a language that defies words; she quickly charms and befriends all the neighbors. She can also cook exotic food, dance (anywhere, anytime), plan fun parties, and tell enchanting stories. Eventually, Tía Lola and the children swap English and Spanish ejercicios, but the true lesson is "mutual understanding." Peppered with Spanish words and phrases, Alvarez makes the reader as much a part of the "language" lessons as the characters. This story seamlessly weaves two culturaswhile letting each remain intact, just as Miguel is learning to do with his own life. Like all good stories, this one incorporates a lesson just subtle enough that readers will forget they're being taught, but in the end will understand themselves, and others, a little better, regardless of la lengua nativa—the mother tongue.
Simple, bella, un regalo permenente: simple and beautiful, a gift that will stay. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: March 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-375-80215-0
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Donavan's friends collect buttons and marbles, but he collects words. ``NUTRITION,'' ``BALLYHOO,'' ``ABRACADABRA''—these and other words are safely stored on slips of paper in a jar. As it fills, Donavan sees a storage problem developing and, after soliciting advice from his teacher and family, solves it himself: Visiting his grandma at a senior citizens' apartment house, he settles a tenants' argument by pulling the word ``COMPROMISE'' from his jar and, feeling ``as if the sun had come out inside him,'' discovers the satisfaction of giving his words away. Appealingly detailed b&w illustrations depict Donavan and his grandma as African-Americans. This Baltimore librarian's first book is sure to whet readers' appetites for words, and may even start them on their own savory collections. (Fiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: June 30, 1994
ISBN: 0-06-020190-8
Page Count: 72
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1994
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
