It looks like an art book but it has little of substance to say about art; it reads like a rather young biography but it has little to tell—since there is little known—about Callot's personal life. Repeatedly referring to the great 17th century etcher as "Europe's first great reporter-artist"—and altogether strongest on his relation to historical events (which are developed in detail)—the text makes less of his qualities as a fantasist and almost nothing of the satirical and ironical nature of his commentary. Symptomatically, the derisive "Awarding the Honors of War" scene is omitted from the series of "Large Miseries"—and there are other omissions of a different nature that merely frustrate the reader (e.g. of the portrait of a former rival that was "the most revealing one that Callot ever made"; of a pupil's "intriguing view" of Callot's room, etc.). Lastly—but of prime importance to anyone concerned with Callot's stature as a printmaker—the reproductions are literally a matter of black against white (or rather ivory), and the better he gets, the poorer they become. That is to say that his tonal effects are lost, dark areas become black, the whole is coarsened (for two quite different, equally regrettable results, see "Card Players" and "The Little Trellis"). Enlargement—both noted and unnoted—tends to coarsen throughout, and altogether there is little here of the master who influenced Rembrandt. Although Miss Averill communicates her respect for Callot, neither the exposition nor the illustrations back her up.
Pub Date: Dec. 10, 1970
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Funk & Wagnalls
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1970
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A striking visual representation of how the label “bad reader” can feel.
A slow reader gains confidence.
Strongly influenced by Talbott’s own childhood reading journey, a young tot with a mop of brown hair and pale skin loves art, but reading doesn’t come as naturally. Crayons and colored pencils create imaginative worlds, but the words on a page crowd together, forming an impenetrable wall, with the youngster barely able to peer over. The rest of the class seemingly soars ahead, turning page after page, but the books (in the protagonist’s mind) give chase, flying menacingly like a scene from Hitchcock: “And they were coming for me! / So many words! So many pages!” Talbott expertly captures the claustrophobic crush of unknown vocabulary, first as a downpour of squiggles from the sky, then as a gnarled, dark forest with words lining the branches. But reading slowly doesn’t mean not reading at all. The youngster learns to search for familiar words, using them as steppingstones. And there are advantages: “Slow readers savor the story!” There is even a “Slow Readers Hall of Fame” included, featuring Albert Einstein, Sojourner Truth, and many others. Talbott excels at evincing concepts visually, and this talent is in evidence here as his protagonist first struggles then gains mastery, surfing confidently down a wave of words. Patience and curiosity (along with some fierce determination) can unlock incredible stories. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A striking visual representation of how the label “bad reader” can feel. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-399-54871-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
An informative and accessible child’s-eye view of STEM careers.
Aspiring young scientists, take heed!
Traveling on a ship to the North Pole would seem an adventure in itself, but the young, unnamed narrator, whose mother heads up a team of marine biologists, also gets to meet eight other scientists involved in other specialties. On almost every page of this early reader, we encounter someone engaged in different fieldwork: a hydrologist, a microbiologist, a geologist, a seismologist, a climate scientist, a meteorologist, a zoologist, and an astronomer. As the narrator thinks about careers in science, more specialty roles—botanist, epidemiologist, and physicist—are added to the list. The work of these scientists is clearly and simply explained. (Appended is a short list with descriptions of 10 specialties.) The unfussy illustrations are washed in glowing colors, with many shades of blue; when snow forms the background, the scientists’ bright jackets pop. The ship itself is a fire-engine red. Beginners might need help reading or pronouncing some of the researchers’ special fields, but overall this is an engaging introduction to a wide and important area of work. The scientists include men and women and are racially diverse. The narrator and Mom are light-skinned; the child uses crutches.
An informative and accessible child’s-eye view of STEM careers. (Early reader/nonfiction. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2024
ISBN: 9780062989659
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 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.
