Lively affirmation for budding entomologists.
Rhyming couplets meet larger-than-life creatures that are loosely considered bugs.
Technically, bugs comprise only a part of the insect family, but this text is more rudimentary than some of its contemporaries. The opening couplet sets the tone for rather banal text that sometimes struggles to achieve a fluid rhythm: “Secret cities buzz and bustle / with itty-bitty hard-work hustle.” (The book’s final verse, in particular, requires rehearsal for those planning to read it aloud.) Still, the large font and sparse print may encourage emergent readers to take on some new sight words, such as mandibles. Additional, smaller-font prose, which appears on most pages, links human and bug activities—as in, carpenter ants rebuilding forests by breaking down old timber and builders clearing a construction site. The colorful, dioramalike art is reminiscent of animated films of the late 1990s from the likes of Pixar or DreamWorks. Squeamish readers will not overcome entomophobia, but those already fascinated will enjoy the ride. How could a bug lover not appreciate two dung beetles who seem to be conversing across their ball of poop? Beyond its three-dimensional flora and fauna, the art includes two wide-eyed, observant girls, both brown-skinned. The backmatter offers more information in prose: specific ways that bugs fit into the web of life; a page with random data-driven facts; and a surprisingly detailed and interesting explanation of how the artist created the illustrations.
Lively affirmation for budding entomologists. (Informational picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 22, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5740-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
May appeal to kids who like visual puzzles but a bit too two-dimensional to generate much excitement.
Triangles combine to hint at various creatures.
The book is composed of a sequence of colorful spreads whose imagery consists of collaged shapes on backgrounds with a texture resembling soft paper. Forests are represented by green triangles of varying hues, the ocean by blue shapes, and the savanna by orange and brown. Each spread contains a constellation of different-sized equilateral triangles representing a few features of an animal—nose, eyes, ears, horns, tusks—hinted at in a brief rhyming riddle. Some of the animals are relatively easy to guess (a fox, a toothy shark), but some are not. In some cases the conceit is far-fetched, as in “The rings around my eyes / might seem like a disguise. / Can you see me?” There is a clear disconnect in depicting a raccoon’s mask as triangles, as there is in showing an owl’s round eyes as triangles. In some images the mystery animal is represented in profile, which may be difficult for some children, and in others the shapes are so sparse as to be highly challenging to interpret. The focus on triangles may limit the interest the book generates for children once they’ve guessed which animal is represented. Those inclined to give up will regret the absence of a picture key.
May appeal to kids who like visual puzzles but a bit too two-dimensional to generate much excitement. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5248-5372-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019
Interesting animal facts and beautiful photographs, but despite the title, best suited to preschoolers (who will love it).
Animal babies are compared with human babies through selected facts and full-page photos.
Sibert Medalist Thimmesh (Team Moon, 2006) explores the similarities and differences in how human and animal babies do things like eat, walk, learn, and play. On each two-page spread, the narrative portion is set in large, bold type while below it in a smaller font is a specific fact relating to the featured baby. Because the narrative portions run across several page turns, the informational pieces—which serve as asides—disrupt the flow. This issue is mitigated a bit by Thimmesh’s use of the same refrain to begin each new topic: “Each new day, in different ways, a baby like you” signals readers to resume the pace. The informational asides about animals are concise and high interest, and while the human facts will be familiar to adult readers, younger readers are likely to learn something new. The photography is gorgeous, with fuzzy, adorable animal babies and diverse, equally cute human ones. Though this book is addressed to a baby, they are not the appropriate audience. This one is best read to preschoolers who can appreciate the book’s length and details. The phrase “a baby like you” may be a misfit, but the past-tense descriptions of things babies do (like learning to walk) make sense for older readers.
Interesting animal facts and beautiful photographs, but despite the title, best suited to preschoolers (who will love it). (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-328-55312-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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