Innovative and intellectually stimulating.
A concept book that gives readers the choice of what to count.
Danielson’s analytical approach to the counting book begins with a photograph of shoes in a box and some guided options of what to count, such as the number of shoes (2) or the number of pairs (1). He consistently includes open questions to encourage independent, creative thinking. Following the example of the shoes, the phrase “How many?” appears on the left with a photograph on the right depicting various foods as they are prepared for cooking, usually three spreads per type of foodstuff. The mostly overhead angle and neat, intentional layout of the photographs makes for clear expectations when decoding the images. Each foodstuff starts simple (a bowl of grapefruits), then changes the items’ state somehow (halved grapefruits on a cutting board with new tools nearby), then ends on a more-complex image (the fruit juiced in a measuring cup with glasses and more whole fruit in the background). The penultimate set of photos shows a kitchen counter with assorted items from previous pages, serving as a culmination of sorts to the visual narrative. The ending pages encourage rereads and “new questions to wonder about,” such as the fairly abstract, “What numbers are missing?” After an initial read with a caregiver, young readers can easily go back and contemplate the pages independently to make new discoveries.
Innovative and intellectually stimulating. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-58089-943-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
A lovely introduction to the impact that a creative mind can have on the world.
A whimsical look at the life of one of the best-known American architects.
Surrounded by pictures of famous buildings in his nursery, a white baby’s mother encourages him to soak up images of the world around him. Playing with blocks gives young Frank a sense of how geometry works, and summers on his uncle’s farm allow him to experience nature and discover shapes in everything he sees. Art and text work together to convey an inevitability to Wright’s growth toward his famous Prairie style architecture. Stringer’s watercolor illustrations depict the contrasting yet complementary geometric shapes and curved lines that characterize Wright’s work. The book’s strong design begins with its nearly square shape and a cover that’s reminiscent of one of Wright’s leaded stained glass windows. The theme of windows looking out onto the world is evident throughout, incorporating elements unique to Wright’s style. Rich colors are balanced with a clear, direct storyline that will capture children’s natural interest in the stuff of imagination. Simple prose set in a light type that reflects Wright’s art serves as a jumping-off point for each of the expansive illustrations, giving young readers ample opportunity to discover hidden gems in the pages, such as the red squares that are scattered throughout Wright’s work.
A lovely introduction to the impact that a creative mind can have on the world. (author’s note, illustrator’s note, sources, key to works depicted) (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4424-7821-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
These pears will be fun read-aloud companions for curious eaters and budding botanists
Paul (The Great Pasta Escape, 2017, etc.) merges theatrical farce with informational picture book in this latest.
If pears could stage a production to tell the story of their life cycle, this would be that show. Two excited young seeds, one depicted as feminine (with a little red hat and a decorative flower) and especially anxious, the other a masculine know-it-all (accessorized with a bow tie and a cane), announce they are going to be pears as this biological play begins. First, of course, the seeds need soil, rain, and sunshine. Then they must settle in for a long nap—a 2-year-long one! Even after their long nap the anxious seed is disappointed to find they are still only saplings. It takes three more years before they grow into fruit-bearing trees. Throughout the book, Berger’s collage art harkens to the theater, illustrating footlights, stagehands, and props, even breaking the flow of the speech-bubble dialogue when a big costume change comes midway through a dispute between the two leads. The use of gendered portrayals of the seedlings raises the question of pollination in the creation of fruit without addressing the roles of botanical male and female contributions. Nevertheless, this cute and simple story brings readers back to the cycle of life as the female pear reveals that she harbors new seeds with which the play’s action may begin again. Backmatter offers further information on pear growth, a handful of pear trivia, and a bibliography.
These pears will be fun read-aloud companions for curious eaters and budding botanists . (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-62672-351-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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