A good beginning for nature appreciation.
Intrigue young naturalists with basic facts about 18 insects distilled from the Sills’ About Insects (2000), for a somewhat older audience.
Each insect, pictured in its natural habitat, is described by a single line of text printed within a contrasting color band across the bottom of the page. The common name of the depicted insect is in a tiny italicized font below its picture. Simple declarative sentences describe attributes all insects share: six legs, three body parts, hatched from eggs, antennae. Twelve sentences start with “Some insects…” and describe characteristics that not all insects have. Often, contrasting attributes are juxtaposed on facing pages. For example, “Some insects are pests. / Some insects are helpful” below pictures of cockroaches and honeybees, respectively. In most cases, the single line of text and scientifically accurate watercolor illustrations with flora and fauna drawn to insect scale provide just enough information for young children. A couple of statements will prompt questions; adults may find themselves searching the internet for accurate answers to curious children’s questions. For example, “Insects live almost everywhere” is paired with a painting of silverfish on a stack of old books. Similarly, “Some insects get food from animals” below a picture of a horse fly near a horse’s eye begs for clarification. Still, facts and detailed pictures make the final sentence spread across two pages almost irrefutable: “It is important to protect insects…and the places where they live.”
A good beginning for nature appreciation. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68263-211-6
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2021
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series.
In this newest addition to the Baby Scientist series toddlers are introduced to the basics of what a botanist does.
The book starts with a simple and straightforward explanation of its subject matter: “Who studies plants? / Baby Botanist does!” Wearing a white lab coat with yellow polka dots, a brown-skinned child with a purple hair bow holding up its one little curl proceeds to present a number of simply stated and easily understood plant facts. As with the previous books, the illustrations are colorful, uncluttered, and humorously engaging, and baby has a sidekick; this time it is a blue-and-yellow snail. After planting a seed, Baby wonders what plant will grow. The text explains that some plants have roots and some do not, and they might grow on water or underground. In a simple acknowledgment of a healthy diet, the book states “Baby’s favorite foods all come from plants.” Children are also presented with food they may not recognize as coming from plants, such as noodles and chocolate. In the end, the seed that Baby has planted, watered, and kept in the sunlight “grows into a flower for Mama!” and with that comes a big thank-you hug from Mama.
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-06-284132-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: HarperFestival
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
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