Twelve classical Indian tales, including an affectionate introduction to elephant-headed Ganesh, a wonderfully concise version of the Mahabharata, and the humbling of several proud heroes and demons by the gods. The demons here are particularly rambunctious: Bali conquers both Earth and Heaven; ten-headed Ravana steals Rama's wife; in ``Ashes to Ashes,'' Bhasmasura chases his master Shiva into a garbage dump. The combination of fresh humor and a text only lightly burdened with ritual behavior, morals, or long Indian names makes this a good gateway to both the great epics and the Jataka tales. Frequent ink drawings, with figures in traditional dress and stylized poses, add an exotic touch. A simultaneously published companion, The Adventures of Young Krishna by Diksha Dalal-Clayton, overlaps a bit but seems aimed at older readers. (Mythology/Folklore. 10-12)
Pub Date: April 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-19-508112-9
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Oxford Univ.
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1993
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Merlin Tuttle, the ``Batman'' subject of this brief biography, dates his enthusiasm for biology to capturing a toad at the age of two. At nine he was keeping a notebook of his wildlife observations and memorizing the scientific names of all the mammals of California. Bat advocate, photographer, researcher, author, and founder of Bat Conservation International, Dr. Tuttle is an excellent example of a contemporary working scientist. Pringles includes fascinating tidbits about bats and their importance to the balance of nature; Tuttle's close-up color photos are stunning. Further reading; index.~(Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: March 29, 1991
ISBN: 0-684-19232-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Scribner
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
World exploration from 6000 B.C. to 1989 A.D., in chronological order with plentiful illustrative material: portraits; photos and drawings of instruments, equipment, exotic plants, animals, people, and landforms; maps (not always easy to follow when several routes are shown on the same map). The brief explanatory text touches on political and economic outcomes. The standard folks are here, plus some less familiar ancients: Egyptian, Muslim, Chinese. It all adds up to less information than a general encyclopedia, but the treatment is much more colorful. No women are mentioned; Matthew Henson, the only African American included, is described (in one sentence) as Peary's ``servant and friend.'' Attractive despite its brevity. Index. (Nonfiction. 10- 12)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-679-81660-7
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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