Striking graphics and a spare, readable text will have young readers snatching up this snake book by this prolific and talented science writer. Without any wasted words, she describes how some of the 2,500 species of snakes hunt, hide, eat, reproduce, and move. Patent states, “There is nothing extra about a snake.” And then goes on to explain how different snakes find, catch, swallow their prey, and avoid being someone else’s lunch. She introduces the pit viper, which subdues its prey with poison, and the boa constrictor, which squeezes its prey to death. She explains how some snakes hide with camouflage and others “play dead.” Patent notes the damage snakes can do when introduced into new environments, for instance, the brown tree snake introduced into Guam that decimated much of the bird and bat population—but points out that most snakes are useful, eating insects and pests. Snakes are referred to by their common name in the text, but an index supplies the scientific name for each. However, when three red-, yellow-, and black-banded snakes appear on the same page, it is hard to determine which is the poisonous coral snake, and which the harmless king snake. Information on the geographic range is only provided on the end papers with a world map. Dramatic illustrations by Jubb are boldly colored, though somewhat lacking in precision. Snakes lunge, leer, writhe, and slide in and out of pages. It is often hard to tell where these snakes begin or end. Often four or five different snakes will appear on the same page, though in nature they are found in very different regions and habitats. Black and orange, green and gold, blue and black, these snakes are more decorative than authentic. Young readers will need to look elsewhere for a field guide, but this is a good introduction and attractive for browsing. (Nonfiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-8027-8743-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2000
Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere.
This book is buzzing with trivia.
Follow a swarm of bees as they leave a beekeeper’s apiary in search of a new home. As the scout bees traverse the fields, readers are provided with a potpourri of facts and statements about bees. The information is scattered—much like the scout bees—and as a result, both the nominal plot and informational content are tissue-thin. There are some interesting facts throughout the book, but many pieces of trivia are too, well trivial, to prove useful. For example, as the bees travel, readers learn that “onion flowers are round and fluffy” and “fennel is a plant that is used in cooking.” Other facts are oversimplified and as a result are not accurate. For example, monofloral honey is defined as “made by bees who visit just one kind of flower” with no acknowledgment of the fact that bees may range widely, and swarm activity is described as a springtime event, when it can also occur in summer and early fall. The information in the book, such as species identification and measurement units, is directed toward British readers. The flat, thin-lined artwork does little to enhance the story, but an “I spy” game challenging readers to find a specific bee throughout is amusing.
Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere. (Informational picture book. 8-10)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-500-65265-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Imagine the states, Kansas, California, Ohio, and all the rest, as people with toothy grins, ping-pong balls for eyes, pipe cleaner limbs, and full-blown personalities. Imagine, then, that they get together at a party and decide to switch places on the map. In this amusing spoof, Kansas wakes up one morning saying, “I’m not feeling happy at all!” and starts the whole thing. Florida goes to Minnesota, California goes to Wisconsin, Nevada and Mississippi fall in love. Then the trouble starts: Alaska, who had missed company, feels claustrophobic among other states; Kansas finds his place in the middle of the ocean to be a bit too quiet; Minnesota, in Florida’s spot, forgets to pack suntan lotion; and so on. Soon the states are rushing back to their original spots with sighs of relief. Keller, in her first book pushes a silly idea, to great lengths, and will elicit laughs from all those who thought geography was boring. The states are colorful, boastful, belligerent, and charming, in collage illustrations that are full of spontaneous asides and intriguing labels. The states appear in a final gallery, with a few statistics to square off the whole funny enterprise. (Picture book. 8-10)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1998
ISBN: 0-8050-5802-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1998
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