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SHAPE-CHANGER

Name: SHAPE-CHANGER
Author: Bill Brittain
ISBN: 0-06-024238-8

by Bill Brittain ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 30, 1994

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A slight tale of a shapeshifting extraterrestrial cop that enlists the aid of shrimpy seventh-grader Frank Dunn to repair its flying saucer and recapture an escaped prisoner. Appearing as a fire hydrant, a visiting cousin, dogs, and various household objects, the Good Guy checks out likely hideouts, helps with Frank's schoolwork, and scares off bullies; in return, Frank fingers the Bad Guy, who's masquerading as a neighborhood chum. Brittain is just going through the motions here: Both shapeshifters have arbitrary, convenient constraints on their ability; the fugitive barely appears and, though billed as a fiendish supercriminal, displays few signs of intelligence; the spaceship is repaired with janitor's tools plus two bags of coal; several scenes are obvious fillers; and the story ends precipitately after a contrived battle. (Fiction. 10-12)

Pub Date: May 30, 1994

ISBN: 0-06-024238-8

Page Count: 108

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1994

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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CHILDREN'S ATLAS OF NATIVE AMERICANS

by Rand McNally ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 1992

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A superficial look at the cultures of various regional groups in both Americas. A typical entry includes three paragraphs on the Incas, a map, and three small, dark photos of ruins and an Inca girl today. Many of the archival and museum diorama photos are muddy, small, marginally related to the text, and poorly captioned. There are no entries for pottery or basketry, though both were important to many of the cultures here. The arrangement also makes it difficult to compare the cultures of various tribes; the visual material is extensive, but unexceptional. The brief index has no entry for ``kayak,'' ``umiak,'' and ``bullboat,'' all described in the text and listed in the glossary. Disappointing. (Nonfiction. 10-12)

Pub Date: Sept. 15, 1992

ISBN: 0-528-83494-0

Page Count: 80

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1992

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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ANIMIAL SOCIETIES

by Karen Gravelle ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1993

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Defining a ``society'' as individuals living together with defined rules and prescribed behaviors, Gravelle discusses several examples, especially wolves, sharks, dolphins, rats, ostriches, ants, and bees. But while the information she presents on their interactions is valuable, her comparisons with human behavior and motivations are sometimes unscientific and inappropriate—e.g., ``in terms of equality between the sexes, rat society appears to be a feminist dream''; or, discussing ``altruistic ostriches,'' ``minor females can enjoy the advantages of reproduction, with none of the risks.'' An interesting but flawed title in the ``Vantage'' series, with drab format only somewhat relieved by the color photos in a center insert. Brief glossary; further reading; index. (Nonfiction. 10-12)