A friendly introduction to science and a worthy addition to preschool shelves.
This quiet, contemplative picture book gives the youngest listeners their first glimpses of science.
In Bennett’s debut picture book, Harold the dog takes a walk. “He thinks the world around him is beautiful and wonderful.” After resting under a shady tree, Harold wants to learn more about it. He asks the bird what she knows about the tree. “This tree provides a safe place for me to live and to hatch my eggs,” she says. “See, I’ve built my nest in its branches. That’s all I know about this tree.” The squirrel knows that the tree gives him nuts to feed his family; the boy knows the tree as a place where he and his friends can climb and play. The narrative draws on the tale of the blind men and the elephant, that Indian folk tale in which men each describe the animal according to the small part they can touch—the tail, the ear, the skin, etc. It’s all about perspective. It’s too bad the blind men didn’t have someone on hand to synthesize what they were all seeing. Harold does, though, after he runs into professor Growgood (a clunker of a name in a book full of otherwise well-selected words). He answers Harold, “Why, knowing about trees and plants is my job!” He continues, “Trees are living things, but they don’t eat food like you and I do. They create their own food by using sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air.” With its simple explanation of photosynthesis, professor Growgood’s botanical explanation of trees and how they grow is suited to the interest level and vocabulary of preschoolers. Pleased with his encounter with professor Growgood, Harold trots home thinking, “I wonder how rain gets into clouds. Perhaps I’ll learn about that tomorrow”—hinting at what would be a welcome series. Bennett’s words are simple, sweet and carefully chosen. Together with the book’s soft-toned, colorful illustrations, they create a gentle world with just enough information for young children to absorb.
A friendly introduction to science and a worthy addition to preschool shelves.Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4904-0585-8
Page Count: 42
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love.
A 13-year-old biracial girl longs to build the house of her dreams.
For Lou Bulosan-Nelson, normal is her “gigantic extended family squished into Lola’s for every holiday imaginable.” She shares a bedroom with her Filipina mother, Minda—a former interior-design major and current nurse-to-be—in Lola Celina’s San Francisco home. From her deceased white father, Michael, Lou inherited “not-so-Filipino features,” his love for architecture, and some land. Lou’s quietude implies her keen eye for details, but her passion for creating with her hands resonates loudly. Pining for something to claim as her own, she plans to construct a house from the ground up. When her mom considers moving out of state for a potential job and Lou’s land is at risk of being auctioned off, Lou stays resilient, gathering support from both friends and family to make her dream a reality. Respicio authentically depicts the richness of Philippine culture, incorporating Filipino language, insights into Lou’s family history, and well-crafted descriptions of customs, such as the birdlike Tinikling dance and eating kamayan style (with one’s hands), throughout. Lou’s story gives voice to Filipino youth, addressing cultural differences, the importance of bayanihan (community), and the true meaning of home.
This delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love. (Fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: June 12, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5247-1794-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Wendy Lamb/Random
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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