An indigestible jumble likely to be left on the launch pad by many of the available higher-powered surveys.
A tour of the universe, from the Big Bang to today’s search for life on other worlds.
Englert leaves the picture incomplete by stopping at the present, but that’s only one problem with this book. His attempts to cram information into the abbreviated, disorganized narrative too often result in either arbitrary leaps (“[Scientists] think dark energy is more like a property of the universe, and that this is the reason why the universe is still EXPANDING today”) or outright misinformation. Examples of the latter include the implication that “thousands” of habitable exoplanets have been discovered (the number is actually around 25, and that’s with a broad definition of “habitable”) and the claim that “Earth’s gravity keeps the Moon from MOVING AROUND EARTH.” The illustrations don’t provide much boost either, as instead of the stunning space photographs or photorealistic images that generally light up this sort of tour, Cole offers mundane painted scenes featuring five young space travelers (all apparently white but one) marveling at garishly colored wonders when they’re not laughing (!) as they and the Earth are “spaghettified” in a black hole. A detachable fold-out poster features a pair of constellation maps on one side without directions for use and an unlabeled view of the Eagle Nebula’s “Pillars of Creation” on the other.
An indigestible jumble likely to be left on the launch pad by many of the available higher-powered surveys. (Nonfiction. 10-13)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-84780-840-0
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2016
The author of The Snake Scientist (not reviewed) takes the reader along on another adventure, this time to the Bay of Bengal, between India and Bangladesh to the Sundarbans Tiger Preserve in search of man-eating tigers. Beware, he cautions, “Your study subject might be trying to eat you!” The first-person narrative is full of helpful warnings: watch out for the estuarine crocodiles, “the most deadly crocodiles in the world” and the nine different kinds of dangerous sharks, and the poisonous sea snakes, more deadly than the cobra. Interspersed are stories of the people who live in and around the tiger preserve, information on the ecology of the mangrove swamp, myths and legends, and true life accounts of man-eating tigers. (Fortunately, these tigers don’t eat women or children.) The author is clearly on the side of the tigers as she states: “Even if you added up all the people that sick tigers were forced to eat, you wouldn’t get close to the number of tigers killed by people.” She introduces ideas as to why Sundarbans tigers eat so many people, including the theory, “When they attack people, perhaps they are trying to protect the land that they own. And maybe, as the ancient legend says, the tiger really is watching over the forest—for everyone’s benefit.” There are color photographs on every page, showing the landscape, people, and a variety of animals encountered, though glimpses of the tigers are fleeting. The author concludes with some statistics on tigers, information on organizations working to protect them, and a brief bibliography and index. The dramatic cover photo of the tiger will attract readers, and the lively prose will keep them engaged. An appealing science adventure. (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-618-07704-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In this glossy photo essay, the author briefly recounts the study and exploration of the moon, beginning with Stonehenge and concluding with the 1998–99 unmanned probe, Lunar Prospector. Most of the dramatic photographs come from NASA and will introduce a new generation of space enthusiasts to the past missions of Project Mercury, Gemini, and most especially the moon missions, Apollo 1–17. There are plenty of photographs of various astronauts in space capsules, space suits, and walking on the moon. Sometimes photographs are superimposed one on another, making it difficult to read. For example, one photograph shows the command module Columbia as photographed from the lunar module and an insert shows the 15-layer space suit and gear Neil Armstrong would wear for moonwalking. That’s a lot to process on one page. Still, the awesome images of footprints on the moon, raising the American flag, and earthrise from the moon, cannot help but raise shivers. The author concludes with a timeline of exploration, Web sites, recommended books, and picture credits. For NASA memorabilia collectors, end papers show the Apollo space badges for missions 11–17. Useful for replacing aging space titles. (Nonfiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2001
ISBN: 1-57091-408-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2001
© Copyright 2024 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.
bookshelf
