Beginning at the beginning, 4.5 billion years ago, when the earth was nothing but a cloud of dust grains and gas whirring around the young sun, Patent (Bold and Bright Black-and-White Animals, 1998, etc.) discusses the shaping of the earth and the changes to it from that time to the present. This impressive introduction to earth science describes early and current theories about the origin of the earth and other planets, the formation of the moon, the layers of the earth's crust and core, plate tectonics, origins of life from deep sea vents, and continental drift. It describes volcanic action, earthquakes, glaciers, and the effects of wind, water, farming and industry on shaping the earth. Throughout, double-page spreads on blue paper provide related topics—e.g., how the Hawaiian Islands were formed; the devastation caused by tropical storm Hugo on the South Carolina Coast; or how beavers change the landscape with their dams. Handsomely presented, glossy pages, wide white borders, guide words in colored type, full color photographs, and many maps and drawings make the whole accessible to the reader. The author, a noted science writer concludes with a glossary, index, further reading and Web sites of interest. The latter provide extensive resources for students researching plate tectonics and other topics in earth science. (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: March 20, 2000
ISBN: 0-395-85691-4
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2000
In this abridged and illustrated version of his Short History of Nearly Everything (2003), Bryson invites a younger crowd of seekers on a tour of time, space and science—from the Big Bang and the birth of the solar system to the growth and study of life on Earth. The single-topic spreads are adorned with cartoon portraits of scientists, explorers and (frequently) the author himself, which go with small nature photos and the occasional chart or cutaway view. Though occasionally subject to sweeping and dubious statements—“There’s no chance we could ever make a journey through the solar system”—Bryson makes a genial guide (“for you to be here now, trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to come together in a complicated and obliging manner to create you”), and readers with even a flicker of curiosity in their souls about Big Ideas will come away sharing his wonder at living in such a “fickle and eventful universe.” (index) (Nonfiction. 11-13)
Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-385-73810-1
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2009
A beautiful conservation story told in a rich setting and peopled with memorable characters.
Unlike the rest of her nature-obsessed family, Louisa wants to be a musician, not a biologist.
But when Louisa’s mother finds out that the Australian government is about to destroy the Tasmanian rainforest camp their family has managed for decades, she insists that Louisa leave Toronto and spend the summer on the strange, small island with her even stranger uncle Ruff. But when Uncle Ruff gives Louisa a copy of her great-grandmother’s journal, Louisa becomes fascinated with her family’s history of secretly protecting endangered species, including the mysterious Tasmanian tiger, widely regarded as extinct. With the help of her new friend and neighbor Colin—a boy who has autism spectrum disorder—Louisa deepens her connection with her family’s land, with history, and with her love of music. Kadarusman masterfully creates a lush, magical world where issues associated with conservation, neurodiversity, and history intersect in surprising and authentic ways. The book’s small cast of characters (principals seem all White) is well drawn and endearing. Crucially, the author acknowledges the original, Indigenous inhabitants of the land as experts, something rarely seen in books about environmental degradation. Louisa’s narratorial voice strikes the right balance of curiosity, timidity, and growing confidence, and her character’s transformation feels both incredibly natural and incredibly rewarding to behold.
A beautiful conservation story told in a rich setting and peopled with memorable characters. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: April 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77278-054-3
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Pajama Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020
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