It’s got a few gaps, but it’s stimulating reading nonetheless for upcoming activists and rebels.
A consciousness raiser about who makes and enforces life’s written and unwritten rules.
Noting at the outset that “power is neither good nor bad; it totally depends on how it is used,” five British writers begin by very briefly laying out a general picture of how adults, bullies, and political leaders wield influence over others. Subsequent sections explore types of said influence—from race, “Rainbow Rights,” and “Different Bodies” to war and money—and offer suggestions for self-empowering activities. Though these last are at least relatively low-risk (i.e., self-esteem–building exercises, making signs and petitions), embedded profiles of activists such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Mohandas Gandhi, Che Guevara, and Alan Turing make it clear that bucking the powers that be can carry a high price tag. The authors pose wonderfully perceptive what-ifs, such as invitations to identify things that might be acceptable today but not OK in the future and to think about Snow White falling in love with Cinderella. These add needed depth and scope to a discussion that occasionally takes a simplistic turn (“the US civil rights movement…eventually ended segregation across America”) and glosses over a number of relevant topics, from terrorism and religion to confirmation bias. The illustrations add a carefully inclusive mix of celebrated figures and generic, mostly young activists pointing and posing around the blocks of text.
It’s got a few gaps, but it’s stimulating reading nonetheless for upcoming activists and rebels. (glossary, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 7-11)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-78240-927-4
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Ivy Kids
Review Posted Online: Aug. 25, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2019
Despite some bright spots, the lapses in information limit this book’s effectiveness.
Celebrations the world over involve parades, foods, traditional clothing, masks, songs, and games.
Information on 14 festivals, country maps, small photos, sidebars with holiday traditions (in the appropriate language, with pronunciations), and instructions for a craft or a recipe make up the jam-packed left-hand page of each spread. Colorful, detailed cartoon illustrations appear opposite. There are certainly interesting facts and activities, but careless errors (including a typo to be corrected in the second printing) and a decided slant toward Western Europe (five countries) diminish the volume’s value. Opening with a monthly timeline, it offers a basic explanation of the lunar calendar, but this is not integrated into the overall schematic. This spread also includes a note about adult help for crafting and cooking. Many of the holidays are commonly celebrated in many places, and the author’s failure to point out that Eid al-Fitr, for instance, is celebrated around the globe and not just in Egypt is a sad, missed opportunity. A few festivals are not often presented in books of this ilk, such as Bhutan’s Dangpai Losar (New Year) and Laternenfest, held on St. Martin’s Day in Germany. The last spread brings children from the different countries together and asks readers to create their own celebrations. Sadly, given the glancing notice necessitated by the format, there are no further resources included.
Despite some bright spots, the lapses in information limit this book’s effectiveness. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 7-10)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4549-3213-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fact-filled exploration of one of the country’s most important natural wonders.
Come explore the history and attractions of the world’s first national park.
Yellowstone National Park, the enormous Rocky Mountain area of wilderness that covers nearly 3,500 square miles, is examined from a variety of angles in this deeply informative book. Starting by describing the scale of a park that sits in three U.S. states (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho), this installment in the Earth’s Incredible Places series goes on to chart the history of the park; its natural attractions, such as a supervolcano, geysers, and waterfalls; and the many types of animals living there. While it was established in 1872 as a national park, the history of the land goes back much further, and the book describes in detail the many Indigenous tribes that visited the land before and after the arrival of European explorers. Ard also discusses what the park is like today with its more than 800 employees and many sights and activities for modern visitors. Illustrations throughout evoke the park’s natural beauty as well as the liveliness of its inhabitants and visitors, making it a place any reader will likely want to someday visit. People depicted are racially diverse.
A fact-filled exploration of one of the country’s most important natural wonders. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 7-11)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9781838748562
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© 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
