A tantalizing taste of the (literally) high life.
A retired astronaut explains what life is like aboard the International Space Station.
Plainly based on memories of his own 5-month space-station mission in 2007, Anderson’s (fictive) letters to family and students not only make reference to scientific work and day-to-day routines, but positively fizz with the sense of being on a great adventure: “I fly to the bathroom—and I even fly when I’m going to the bathroom. So cool!” and “I was like one of those guys who fix wires on utility poles. But in SPACE!” Batori captures the exhilaration with cartoon scenes featuring a diverse crew of pop-eyed humans (plus one green extraterrestrial) in various orientations, joined by various imagined animals (“It would be neat to have a dog or a cat, but what a mess with no gravity!”), floating foodstuffs, and, following an eventual return to Earth, a cheering crowd at a “Welcome Home” party. The author closes with a more-detailed recap, so young readers with serious questions relating to the physiology of space adaptation syndrome are just as well served as those who are keenly interested in how long astronauts have to wear their underwear. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 83% of actual size.)
A tantalizing taste of the (literally) high life. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-53411-074-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Valuable exposure to an ancient and fundamental gardening principle.
Companion plants in a small garden demonstrate how they help keep one another happy, healthy, and safe from hungry beetles.
“Snuggle close, little bean,” says an adult gardener to a young child, “and let me tell you a story.” In the ensuing tale, the rooted residents of Companion Patch—from Mari the golden marigold to Tumble the sassy tomato—who have teamed up to provide shade, support, and other mutual benefits welcome the traditional Three Sisters: Squish the squash, Connie the corn, and Bobbie the bean. Crisis looms when pesky leaf-eating beetles descend, but a whispered word to a helpful bumblebee brings a rush of such “helpful herbs” as Nellie the nasturtium in to repel the invasion with “strong scents” and (unspecified) “clever tricks.” In keeping with the cutesy aesthetic, all the bugs and named fruits, roots, and flowers sport expressive faces with googly eyes in Gerrard’s brightly colored cartoon scenes. The anthropomorphism extends even to eyeglasses for some. “See?” says Mari, presenting an idyllic tangle of vegetal diversity at the end. “In Companion Patch, every plant has a place.” There’s a lesson there for all of us, Walton concludes, before bringing her sweetly informative tale to a close with a light sprinkle of companion planting basics. Human characters are pale-skinned.
Valuable exposure to an ancient and fundamental gardening principle. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: June 23, 2026
ISBN: 9781805704256
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Ivy Kids Eco/Quarto
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A winning choice for just about anywhere that’s on a map.
This nighttime adventure teaches children about different types of maps.
In the days of GPS software and smartphones that tell us where to go, essential learned skills such as reading maps may not be passed along to younger children. Hesselberth takes on this challenge of instruction through the story of Sam, an orange cat who exudes attitude. Each night after her human companions are safely in bed, Sam slips out of their house and begins an adventurous stroll around her community. Every few pages, Sam’s journey is explained using a map and map-based terminology. Important terms, such as “compass rose” and “blueprints,” are explained in pop-up boxes that accompany Sam’s story, but the focus broadens beyond simple geographical maps. As Sam explores, other types of pictorial guides are also explained. Anatomical maps, cross-section diagrams, constellation charts, and many others are described and pictured. The flow of the story is smooth, and the introduction of each new piece of cartography feels organic. Hesselberth’s artwork, a combination of acrylic, gouache, and digital manipulation, is clear and will show well in large groups. The added backmatter further defines the cartographic styles used throughout the story. Educators will find this a useful tool for introducing new concepts of space and location.
A winning choice for just about anywhere that’s on a map. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-274122-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
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