Koscielniak opens with the appearance of faience beads in Egypt about 4,500 years ago, closes with the development of optical fiber and, in between, charts milestones in the use and manufacture of glass, from the various chemical additions that have given it strength and color—and clarity, which turns out to be a late and tricky accomplishment—to the invention of glassblowing. Though his ink-and-watercolor illustrations are less engagingly detailed than in earlier outings, they do depict historical techniques of manufacture while artfully capturing glass’s gemlike, rainbow glitter in tiny beads and telescope mirrors, a neon sign, a great cathedral window and other objects. Young readers will come away with enough facts for a simple report, as well as a greater appreciation for what the author twice dubs an “extraordinary material.” (endpaper maps) (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: April 17, 2006
ISBN: 0-618-50750-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2006
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cannon revisits the reclusive, catlike Fuzzheads introduced in Trupp (1999), for an offbeat rite-of-passage tale. When apprentice herbalist Yau finds her errant friend Trupp unconscious, victim of a human poison, she accompanies Wise Ones Rowl, Rup, and Eermp into human territory in search of the rare vine that provides the only cure. As before, though Fuzzheads look like crosses between pumas and polar bears in Cannon’s liquidly realistic paintings, once they don clothing and stand on two legs, the people they meet don’t seem to notice that they’re different. Several nerve-wracking encounters later, Yau finds the vine, rushes it back in time to save Trupp, and earns an invitation from the Wise Ones to move on to the next level of study. As is her wont, Cannon pairs a wordy but uncomplicated adventure to whimsical, technically accomplished art—giving readers of both simple and sophisticated taste something to appreciate. (Picture book. 7-9)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-15-201791-7
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2002
A first look at volcanoes by the author of Rivers: Nature’s Busy Waterways (p. 412). Here the author tries to explain what volcanoes are, where they are found, how they form, and what happens when they explode. He states: “Every day somewhere volcanoes erupt. From far off they look like beautiful fireworks. But up close, a volcano is no fun.” The illustrator avoids that understatement showing a lurid double-page spread of a fiery, red-orange, erupting volcano, followed by a double-page spread of catapulting rocks and smoke. Harrison has a difficult time making the text clear, accurate, and accessible. For example, he states: “If too much gas is trapped inside, part of the mountain may blow off, hurling rocks heavier than elephants for miles.” But not all mountains are volcanoes, and how does the gas get trapped inside? Rocks bigger than elephants hurled for miles? Sometimes, the text doesn’t seem to make sense, for example: “Most magna moves toward the crust where it cools and sinks again. But some magna breaks though weak spots by rising through cracks like chimney flues until at last it bubbles or blasts free onto the surface.” Why does it move toward the crust? Why does it cool when it moves toward the crust? Why does it sink? What are chimney flues? This title will lead to more questions than answers. Curious readers should look elsewhere. (Nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2002
ISBN: 1-56397-996-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2002
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