A whimsical concept delivered with a heaping helping of charm.
A lighthearted comparison of two iconic characters.
With deadpan delivery, Vaisberg examines a centuries-long debate regarding “the ultimate question.” Could the query concern the meaning of life? Perhaps the eternal struggle between good and evil? No, this book brings a far more entertaining controversy to light: “Are ninjas better fighters than cats, or are cats the true masters of stealth and agility?” Vaisberg’s clever, comedic comparative study provides plenty of fascinating feline and ninja facts. Cats’ relationship with humans began centuries ago in the Middle East, while ninjas first conducted espionage and infiltration missions in 12th-century Japan. Cats and ninjas have comparable fighting technology: Cats possess sharp, retractable claws, while ninjas use clawlike hand tools called tekko-kagi. Both felines and black-masked fighters rely on special secret languages. Ninjas communicate via kuji-kiri, or hand signals, while cats speak volumes with their tails. Pitting ninjas against felines, Vaisberg tests their abilities in three areas to determine a victor: speed, secrecy, and agility. The outcome may disappoint or delight, but young cat fanciers and ninja nerds alike will find much to enjoy here. The book’s purple-pink color scheme is strangely intriguing, while its stylized design relies heavily on traditional Japanese motifs (wave patterns, flowering branches and rolling clouds). An adorable array of domestic cat breeds is featured, from Cornish rex to “Chonky Cat” and every manner of fluffball in between.
A whimsical concept delivered with a heaping helping of charm. (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781464247088
Page Count: 40
Publisher: duopress/Sourcebooks
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
Another playful imagination-stretcher.
Markle invites children to picture themselves living in the homes of 11 wild animals.
As in previous entries in the series, McWilliam’s illustrations of a diverse cast of young people fancifully imitating wild creatures are paired with close-up photos of each animal in a like natural setting. The left side of one spread includes a photo of a black bear nestling in a cozy winter den, while the right side features an image of a human one cuddled up with a bear. On another spread, opposite a photo of honeybees tending to newly hatched offspring, a human “larva” lounges at ease in a honeycomb cell, game controller in hand, as insect attendants dish up goodies. A child with an eye patch reclines on an orb weaver spider’s web, while another wearing a head scarf constructs a castle in a subterranean chamber with help from mound-building termites. Markle adds simple remarks about each type of den, nest, or burrow and basic facts about its typical residents, then closes with a reassuring reminder to readers that they don’t have to live as animals do, because they will “always live where people live.” A select gallery of traditional homes, from igloo and yurt to mudhif, follows a final view of the young cast waving from a variety of differently styled windows.
Another playful imagination-stretcher. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781339049052
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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