by David A. Carter ; illustrated by David A. Carter ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 29, 2017
A serene and lovely presentation.
Carter’s latest stop on his ongoing seasonal cycle offers pop-up pumpkins, corn, and other signs of mellow fruitfulness.
As in his Winter (2015) and Spring (2016), each opening presents a small, flat landscape dominated by a central pop-up, with scattered specimens of flora, insects, birds, and other wildlife—with identifying labels for most everything, even clouds—and leading questions below: “Who nibbles the water plants?” “Who hunts from the sky?” The setting is unspecified but has the look of the western United States, with glimpses of bison, California chicory, sockeye salmon, and a ringtail visible in various scenes, and a house visible in the distance that looks North American or European. Persimmons and pomegranates on the final spread broaden the general sense of locale a bit, though, and only early mention of “a chill in the air” pins the narrative to particular latitudes. Barred clouds (“altocumulus”) bloom on a soft dying day before the final observation that “Winter is coming; it’s time to harvest.”
A serene and lovely presentation. (Informational pop-up picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4197-2535-7
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
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by David A. Carter ; illustrated by David A. Carter
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by David A. Carter ; illustrated by David A. Carter
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by David A. Carter ; illustrated by David A. Carter
by Shelley Rotner & Anne Woodhull ; photographed by Shelley Rotner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 25, 2020
High-quality photos of children and objects from nature and the built environment engage kids in exploring basic geometry.
Exciting young children about mathematical concepts is becoming increasingly important, as parents and teachers recognize the value of STEM education.
This attractive, new full-color photo essay will stimulate children to recognize, name, and categorize the basic shapes they see everywhere. The multisensory text encourages kids to associate shapes with listening and feeling. Taste and smell can also be explored. Phrases like “TRIANGLES chime...” and “OVALS pop...” will inspire poetic use of language. The introductory spread for each shape includes one photo within a cutout of the shape, for example, a red kite within a diamond-shaped background of blue sky, and the caption: “DIAMONDS fly....” The page turn reveals a grid of photos of diamond shapes, including pips on playing cards, textiles and tiles, and a baseball diamond. The text naming these images appears in one box in the grid, so identifying which photo represents what’s described becomes a game, potentially spurring creative thought. On many spreads, racially diverse children interact with the shapes; a light-brown–skinned child sports a star barrette in curly brown hair, an Asian-presenting kid holds a square, wrapped present. The book ends with a challenge in the form of photos of different shapes and a question: “What shapes do you see?” An opening note discusses the difference between plane and spatial geometry and the importance of shape identification in early learning.
High-quality photos of children and objects from nature and the built environment engage kids in exploring basic geometry. (Informational picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4638-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
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by Gwen Agna & Shelley Rotner ; photographed by Shelley Rotner
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by Shelley Rotner ; illustrated by Shelley Rotner
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by Gwen Agna & Shelley Rotner ; photographed by Shelley Rotner
by Hollis Kurman ; illustrated by Barroux ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2020
A painfully well-intentioned but just OK addition to children’s literature about refugees.
A family seeking refuge is met with kindness in this simple counting book.
One boat carries an African family escaping war across the sea, two hands lift them out of it “to safety,” three meals calm the children’s hunger, and four beds keep the family and a friend warm at night. The mother, two young children, and a baby continue to be met with kindness. Colorful spreads illustrate their journey and fill the newcomers’ environment with diverse faces, young and old. The simple counting book concludes with further information about refugees and a list of organizations through which readers might help or learn more. In emphasizing kindness and welcome, Kurman undercuts her own mission. Readers may become frustrated with the refugee family’s lack of agency as they receive aid, gifts, and culture from others throughout the book—it is a one-sided relationship. It feels as though the choice of protagonists may have been made with an eye to highlighting only the most uncontroversial as subjects of charity. Some may feel that the choices made throughout the book consolidate refugees’ position as an objectified “other.” Others will notice that the list of recommended organizations is concentrated in the developed world and does not mention community-based ones. The refugees fit in seamlessly in their environment, are grateful, and say “thanks” at the end.
A painfully well-intentioned but just OK addition to children’s literature about refugees. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-62354-229-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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