The story of the dolphin called Winter involved a prosthetic tail and was told in books and a movie. But the tale did not end there.
Five years later, another baby dolphin is found in great distress very near where Winter was discovered. Again, the dedicated professionals at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescue the animal and do everything possible to keep her alive. When she recovers, they make the decision to keep her at the aquarium, naming her Hope, and over a period of years, they train her and nurture her. Knowing that dolphins need companionship, they carefully introduce her to Winter and the elderly dolphin Panama. The three dolphins bond easily, forming a loving group. When Panama dies, Hope and Winter grow even closer, and they are now the stars of the aquarium, attracting crowds of visitors. While the authors are painstaking in their factual account of the events, they also manage to convey a sense of suspense and wonder, as the outcome is never assured. The text is greatly enhanced by color photos depicting many of the exciting events, patient care and joyous playfulness of these good friends. Additional facts about the Clearwater facility and the dolphins aid readers in understanding the extraordinary events. True, informative, heartfelt and compelling. (Informational picture book. 5-10)
Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-75037-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
Tell it to the bees. The ancient art of beekeeping is alive and well in Brooklyn, N.Y. Fred is dedicated to his bees and greets them each morning on his rooftop. He has named the queens Mab, Boadicea and Nefertiti, after legendary historic figures; the bees are his “sweeties” and his “darlings.” He hums with them as they swarm and flies with them in his imagination as they search for the most fragrant flowers. When the time is right, he carefully gathers their honey, jars it, shares it with his neighbors and, of course, savors some of that luscious honey himself. Nargi’s descriptive language is filled with smell and sound and sight, carrying readers right up to that rooftop with Fred, while seamlessly interweaving detailed information about beekeeping. An afterword of “amazing facts” explains more about apiarists, bees’ life cycles and more, all in light, easy-to-understand syntax. Brooker’s oil-and-collage illustrations, appropriately rendered in greens and browns, golds and ambers, enhance the text beautifully. They accurately depict Fred’s and the bees’ actions while creating a stylized, fanciful view of a homey Brooklyn neighborhood, complete with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Even the endpapers are integral to the work, presenting labeled diagrams of bees and beekeeping materials. Eccentric and unusual with an appealing, gentle charm. (Picture book. 5-10)
Pub Date: March 8, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-375-84980-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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