Anecdotal, loopily organized, but engaging. And chewy! (glossary, acknowledgments, endnotes with resources, index)...
Sayre beckons kids to investigate and ruminate on slow-moving animals, slow-growing plants, slow motion, and plenty more.
In loosely arranged sections, the author adopts a conversational style to both inform and amuse curious students. She covers expected topics, such as the centuries-old sequoia tree, the land snail, and slow-forming geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon. But refreshing, often fleeting twists of topic, delivered with repeated exhortations for kids to slow down, ponder, and study, combine for a galloping volume that respects children as capable scientific thinkers. Sayre examines time’s effect on natural materials, from the Statue of Liberty’s copper to the erosion of gravestones. The origins of the air and water that compose human bodies get a look, as does the biology of intentionally slow practices such as tai chi and yoga. The concept of “slow” in art and culture—evidenced in the slow-food movement, the art of bonsai, and John Cage’s composition “As Slow as Possible” (which will last about 639 years)—is playfully introduced. Current scientists and their work are interwoven. Murphy’s cartoonish illustrations provide more humor than elucidation. The whole shebang winds up in outer space, where Sayre introduces concepts like light-years and dark matter and calls on kids to think “big, slow, chewy thoughts” about the expanding universe.
Anecdotal, loopily organized, but engaging. And chewy! (glossary, acknowledgments, endnotes with resources, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62091-783-1
Page Count: 168
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2016
In brief chapters, abundantly illustrated with amusing cartoons and photographs, the author explores common fears shared by...
Murphy, the author of Why Is Snot Green? (2009), tackles another high-interest subject in this entertaining look at fears and phobias.
In brief chapters, abundantly illustrated with amusing cartoons and photographs, the author explores common fears shared by people from all walks of life: wild animals, snakes and insects, natural disasters, dentists and doctors, darkness, death, drowning, heights, ghosts, monsters in closets and more. He explains the differences between innate and learned fears and between fears and phobias, also discussing their biological and psychological dimensions. After describing a particular fear, he follows with a discussion of how grounded in reality that fear is and explains the likelihood of that fear becoming a reality. "The odds of dying in a sandstorm or snowstorm are, for most people, very low… [They] are dangerous, but fairly predictable." As in his other books, Murphy includes enough gross details to keep readers engaged (some foodborne microorganisms "make us vomit and poo explosively") but always stays centered on science ("E. coli… is usually a harmless bacterium").Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-633-6
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
What causes the weather? Why does the wind blow? How can we predict the weather? Are we changing the climate? Basic explanations of complicated meteorological concepts are presented in bite-sized chunks as answers to these and other common questions about weather and climate. This intriguing presentation has flaps to open, tabs to pull, wheels to turn and cardboard pop-up models that include a stunning 3-D hurricane. The colorful, heavy-duty pages are chock full of painted images, text boxes in different fonts and diagrams. There are plenty of arrows to help readers find their way. The construction is sturdy enough for numerous readings, and the design invites participation. Occasionally readers are addressed directly. Instructions for an experiment demonstrating evaporation and condensation and for making a rain gauge provide extensions beyond the book, but there are no suggestions for further reading or sources. Though the explanations are relatively simple, and the pictures are helpful, the vocabulary is challenging and there is no glossary. Unlike most books written for children about environmental issues today, this also offers no easy, superficial solutions. The focus on the workings of weather, the differentiation of weather and climate and the quick overview of past climates and explanation of climate change provide a helpful base for elementary readers wishing to understand the science behind the concern. (Pop-up nonfiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5262-3
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Templar/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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