``Slime is anything that is oily, greasy, goopy and gross,'' says Jackson (The Precious Gift, 1996, etc.) before she goes on to describe the function of some slime found in nature: egg white, protecting the yolk; frog eggs attached to plants, warming in the sun; human saliva, facilitating a host of processes (this last discussion—one page of the book—may be why the title is catalogued in 611 with human anatomy). Not content with slime in nature, the author continues with a discussion of ancient Aztec algae slime bread; a page of slime jokes; an activity (making slime in a sealed plastic lunch bag); a recipe for slime pie; and a gross story. Jackson loads her text with short, expressive words: mucky, yucky, squirmy, grimy gunk. The scientific information is interesting but superficial; this is not the definitive text on slime, but a complement to such standards as Vicki Cobb's Gobs of Goo (1983). Apt illustrations—phlegmy fingers dripping goo, snails on a knife edge—complete the intentionally odious presentation. Place this book with its green and black slimy cover face-out and it will simply ooze off the shelves. (bibliography) (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-10)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-7613-0042-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Millbrook
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1997
At ``Step 2'' in the useful ``Step into Reading'' series: an admirably clear, well-balanced presentation that centers on wolves' habits and pack structure. Milton also addresses their endangered status, as well as their place in fantasy, folklore, and the popular imagination. Attractive realistic watercolors on almost every page. Top-notch: concise, but remarkably extensive in its coverage. A real bargain. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-679-91052-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
Trickling, bubbling, swirling, rushing, a river flows down from its mountain beginnings, past peaceful country and bustling city on its way to the sea. Hooper (The Drop in My Drink, 1998, etc.) artfully evokes the water’s changing character as it transforms from “milky-cold / rattling-bold” to a wide, slow “sliding past mudflats / looping through marshes” to the end of its journey. Willey, best known for illustrating Geraldine McCaughrean’s spectacular folk-tale collections, contributes finely detailed scenes crafted in shimmering, intricate blues and greens, capturing mountain’s chill, the bucolic serenity of passing pastures, and a sense of mystery in the water’s shadowy depths. Though Hooper refers to “the cans and cartons / and bits of old wood” being swept along, there’s no direct conservation agenda here (for that, see Debby Atwell’s River, 1999), just appreciation for the river’s beauty and being. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: June 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7636-0792-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2000
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
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.
bookshelf
