A handsome oversize pictorial atlas that will fly off the shelf. Nearly 270 of the world's 9,000 bird species are meticulously illustrated in color and arranged by continental regions, with an introduction to climate, topography, and typical birds for each. Boxes and inserts provide maps, photos, and a sampling of facts (the tiniest bird, fastest runner, largest lake). Birds from major habitats within the different regions are described and illustrated on double spreads that include common and scientific names, size, and range. But occasional generalizations are so awkwardly phrased that their meaning is muddled (``These tiny birds [Dovekie] look like penguins of the Antarctic because they live and feed in a similar way''). Still, a mostly dramatic, visually striking book for nature browsers. Index. (Nonfiction. 8- 14)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1993
ISBN: 1-56458-327-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1993
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Upbeat, unflinching, and solid.
Can a dog be a guardian angel in the hardest of times?
When sixth grader Thea Ettinger’s best friend, Charlie Gabriel, dies in a terrible accident while she is with him, Thea’s life is turned upside down. She stops speaking and can’t handle school; ultimately, her family moves to another town, hoping to give her a fresh start. When the family decides to adopt a rescue pup, it’s the dog (who has a lazy eye, just like Charlie’s) who picks Thea—not the other way around. Once Jack-Jack starts sleeping on her bed, Thea’s nightmares dissipate, and his companionship leads her back to a more familiar self. Eventually, with the help of her younger sisters, an elementary school teacher, new friend Rory, and others, Thea finds a way to confront her grief and to heal in her own time. While some of the plot points seem improbable and the story unfolds in fits and starts, Buyea, author of the Mr. Terupt series, brings a steady hand to demonstrating emotionally healthy family moments and adults who care, even if they are occasionally misguided. Short chapters contribute to the fast pace and may appeal to reluctant readers. Main characters appear to be white; Rory introduces Thea to sign language that he has learned because his father is Deaf.
Upbeat, unflinching, and solid. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: June 8, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-525-64802-4
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Emotionally thrilling and richly satisfying.
A Maasai girl’s bond with a baby elephant catapults her into the world of wildlife conservation.
Jama is a 12-year-old Maasai girl in Kenya who feels troubled by the path to maturity most of her friends seem to want. Jama’s mother remained single after the death of her father and ran the family business alone. However, Jama’s desire for a different version of womanhood, one that includes an education and autonomy, causes her best friend, who dreams of boys and marriage, to slowly begin withdrawing from her. Jama starts to feel isolated as her old friends begin to exclude her. She is hiding near a watering hole, her special secret place, when she witnesses the birth of a baby elephant. Jama immediately feels a bond with the baby elephant and returns to check on her. But when their new wildlife ranger seems to be collaborating with poachers, Jama fears for the elephant herd. Dramatic events lead to tragedy and Jama’s banishment from the village. Poaching, conservation efforts, and elephant behavior are explored through Jama’s experiences with the baby elephant. Creating the life you want from the ashes of your old one is a prominent theme in this narrative as Jama sheds old friendships and becomes a young woman.
Emotionally thrilling and richly satisfying. (glossary, authors’ note) (Fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: July 25, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31692-7
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
© Copyright 2025 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.
