by Douglas Florian and illustrated by Douglas Florian ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 9, 2010
Trees receive a witty and informative rhyming appreciation. Starting with a concrete poem about “The Seed” (which brilliantly snakes its way into the shape of the infinity sign) and moving into species both familiar—“Oak,” “Giant Sequoias”—and less well known—“Scribbly Gum,” “Bristlecone Pine”—Florian also introduces readers to such individual elements as “Roots” and “Bark.” The author renders his illustrations on crinkly, brown paper bags in a diverse assortment of media—gouache watercolors, colored paints, rubber stamps, oil pastels and collage—and incorporates images of humans (hands, faces, whole bodies) into many of them. Equally effective is the large double-page layout of the book, which opens top to bottom rather than left to right, giving each tree room to grow. His style is looser than in previous books, in keeping with the organic, natural theme. Although some of his wordplay falls flat (sequoias are “Ancient seers / Of three thousand years”), by and large the poems live up to his usual high standard. The author is careful to include a “Glossatree,” an author’s note and a bibliography. Readers and listeners will learn and laugh. (Picture book/poetry. 5-9)
Pub Date: March 9, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4169-8672-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: BBC Books/Trafalgar
Review Posted Online: March 7, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2010
Share your opinion of this book
More by Douglas Florian
BOOK REVIEW
by Douglas Florian ; illustrated by Christiane Engel
BOOK REVIEW
by Douglas Florian ; illustrated by Douglas Florian
BOOK REVIEW
by Douglas Florian ; illustrated by Douglas Florian
by Buzz Aldrin & illustrated by Wendell Minor ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2005
In first-person voice, Aldrin highlights points from his childhood that led to his dream of being an astronaut and making the historic moon landing. Coincidental details like his mother’s maiden name, “Moon,” and his favorite movie hero, the “Lone Ranger,” suggest clues to his destiny. After West Point, he joined the Air Force because “he wanted to fly more than anything.” Minor’s usual beautiful and realistic illustrations effectively convey spatial perspectives and movement, adding depth to the narrative. However, the cover design and type layout are confusing, indicative of a biography instead of an autobiography—a brief intro could have clarified it. Aldrin’s message in an author’s note avows, “If you set your sights high, you may accomplish more than you ever dreamed.” Pair this with Don Brown’s One Giant Step for a child’s-eye view on space exploration. (Flight/space exploration chronology) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Pub Date: June 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-06-055445-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2005
Share your opinion of this book
More by Buzz Aldrin
BOOK REVIEW
by Buzz Aldrin & Marianne Dyson ; illustrated by Bruce Foster
BOOK REVIEW
by Buzz Aldrin and illustrated by Wendell Minor
by Sheila Hamanaka ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1994
This heavily earnest celebration of multi-ethnicity combines full-bleed paintings of smiling children, viewed through a golden haze dancing, playing, planting seedlings, and the like, with a hyperbolic, disconnected text—``Dark as leopard spots, light as sand,/Children buzz with laughter that kisses our land...''— printed in wavy lines. Literal-minded readers may have trouble with the author's premise, that ``Children come in all the colors of the earth and sky and sea'' (green? blue?), and most of the children here, though of diverse and mixed racial ancestry, wear shorts and T-shirts and seem to be about the same age. Hamanaka has chosen a worthy theme, but she develops it without the humor or imagination that animates her Screen of Frogs (1993). (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-688-11131-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1994
Share your opinion of this book
More by Sheila Hamanaka
BOOK REVIEW
by Sheila Hamanaka & illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka
BOOK REVIEW
by Larry La Prise & Charles P. Macak & Taftt Baker & illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka
BOOK REVIEW
by Sheila Hamanaka & illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.