In the same style as The Way Things Work (1988), lively, vivid colored-pencil illustrations accompany a very detailed text explaining the design and function of the human body. Beginning at the atomic level and describing the structure and workings of human cells with an amount of information that nearly rivals high-school biology books, Macaulay and Walker then move on to DNA, tissue types, organs and organ systems, immune response, movement and reproduction. The intricacy and wonder of the human body is celebrated, but this is never an easy read. The lighthearted illustrations featuring speech balloons, tiny workers and a variety of other humorous touches will attract a fairly young age group, but the amount and complexity of the written information may daunt all but the most ardent enthusiasts. This is without doubt a browsing volume; the amusing but general chapter headings—“Air Traffic Control”—makes location of topics a bit of a challenge. Though it’s an unlikely choice for a little light reading, the accuracy, detail and depth of information make this an essential addition to most collections. (Nonfiction. 12 & up)
Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-618-23378-6
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Walter Lorraine/Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2008
A riveting adventure about an encounter with one of nature’s most formidable manifestations. Beard (The Flimflam Man, 1998, etc.) presents a suspenseful account of Lucille and her brother Natt’s experience during an afternoon tornado; readers will keep turning the pages until the climactic conclusion. Natt and Lucille are left alone in shelter of the cellar during the storm as their mother goes to assist an elderly neighbor. With quiet courage the two face the storm, relying upon each other for moral and physical support. Beard’s lyrical descriptions of Natt and Lucille’s experiences lend a you-are-there immediacy to the tale, while Carpenter’s generously colored artwork vibrates with the intensity of nature unleashed. Turquoise skies quickly turn to dark indigo as the storm approaches. Deep, foreboding grays predominate as Natt and Lucille wait out the storm; with the return of lighter skies and colors, the children emerge from their shelter. A rousing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 10, 1999
ISBN: 0-374-37977-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1999
While many of the night sky activities in this book, subtitled “Exploring Nature After Dark with Activities, Experiments and Information,” are more applicable for children who live in the country than for urban dwellers, older students will enjoy browsing this compendium of facts about astronomy and animals. Moon-watching, stargazing, information on nocturnal animals, bioluminescence, night flowering plants, night migration, and more are discussed. Activities include dissecting an owl pellet, measuring plant growth, and making a simple star scope. Interesting and practical. (diagrams, index) (Nonfiction 8-12)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 1-55074-318-X
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1999
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