Taking as her starting point the world of water, from which life appeared on Earth, the author of this lively title traces the connections between early fossil records and modern examples of six water-connected species: segmented worms, cephalopods (squids, octopuses, and nautiluses), scorpions, platypus, whales and Canada geese. Like its predecessor, Super Crocs & Monster Wings (2008), this features jazzy typography, colorful backgrounds and plenty of clearly identified color photographs. Each section includes a page of “Family Ties” and another of “Fun Facts,” and between each section a double-page spread explains a more general concept (plankton, tides, salt vs. fresh water). Differing page designs make it easy to distinguish subjects and sections. Clear descriptions use scientific names, with pronunciation given in context. The “pop” format belies the real science behind this informative offering. The vibrant presentation will draw in browsers, who will find fascinating examples of evolution at work. A bibliography of books and websites for further exploration of each topic is included, as well as a selected list of the author’s sources. (index) (Nonfiction. 9-13)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-55451-206-5
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Annick Press
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2009
A picture book combines the exuberance of children and the drama found in nature for a sly lesson on power-sharing. Henderson (Newborn, 1999, etc.) lands on the wide reaches of a windy beach where young Jim expansively flings wide his arms and claims “All this is mine!” So it seems until the wind blows in a gale so violent that it smashes objects and tears “through the dreams of people sleeping.” An eerie series of black-and-white paintings shows the white-capped waves breaking ever higher and crashing inland; these are so frightening that Jim cries out to his mother, “The sea! It’s coming!” Happily enough, Jim and his mother are able to run up the hill to a grandmother’s house where they weather the storm safely. The next time Jim speaks to the wind, on a much quieter beach, he whispers, “All this is yours.” Large type, appealing pastel illustrations, and a dose of proper perspective on humankind’s power over nature make this book a fine choice for story hours as well as nature collections. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-7636-0904-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1999
From McDonald (Tundra Mouse, 1997, etc.), a haunting, dramatic glimpse of the Bone Keeper, a trickster with special transformational powers. Some say Bone Woman is a ghost; some envision her with three heads that view past, present, and future simultaneously. Most, however, call her the “Skeleton Maker” or “Keeper of Bones.” Chanting, shaking, moaning, and wailing, the Bone Keeper is frenzied as she sorts bones; not until the end of the book are readers told, in murmuring lines of free verse, what the Bone Keeper is creating in her mysterious desert cave. Out of the darkness, a wolf springs to life, leaps from the cave, howling, a symbol of resurrection and proof of life’s cyclical nature. Also keeping readers guessing as to the Bone Keeper’s final creation are Karas’s paintings; they, too, require that the final piece of the puzzle be placed before all are understood. The coloring and textures embody the desert setting in the evening, showing the fearsome cave and sandy shadows that wait to release the mystery of the bones. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-7894-2559-9
Page Count: 30
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1999
© Copyright 2025 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.
