This survey of languages is fun but superficial.
This graphic survey of onomatopoeias takes on a global demographic of sounds.
The narrator is a smiling, golden star that appears on every page, introducing readers to an individual sound as it is expressed in different languages. Each chapter represents a category of sounds, starting with animal sounds, then moving on to loud noises and sounds the human body makes, before ending with the expressive sounds of emotions. Refreshingly, the survey ventures beyond Western European languages, including Malay, Latvian, Punjabi, Telugu, and Filipino, among others. Languages that do not use the Roman alphabet are transliterated, so an Arabic lion says, “zayiyr”; when bubbles pop in Russia they go, “chpok!”; and a Korean clock goes, “ddok ddak.” Though it’s easy to see how children can have fun mimicking the sounds expressed in the speech bubbles that dot the colorful cartoon illustrations, there is no appreciable education about the cultures represented. Some pages feature illustrations of human characters of various skin colors. While, admirably, there seems to be no racial correspondence of skin color to language, the narrator makes some jokes that fall flat, as when it declares its preference for classical music when a Danish duck says “rap,” or seems to make fun of Korean screams. There is no map to locate languages geographically for readers.
This survey of languages is fun but superficial. (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5248-5076-0
Page Count: 168
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
A useful starting point.
Learn about science by copying (adapted) concepts from the best!
In graphic format, readers explore over 40 projects inspired by as many (more or less) scientific minds throughout history. The book unfolds predictably in topical double-page spreads, with the verso page introducing a scientist (sometimes two) in a paneled page rife with corny humor while the recto summarizes an experiment, observational study, project, or mathematical exercise that can be completed with limited supplies commonly found in most homes. The projects are useful springboards for science fairs or home-based experiments, but the abbreviated biographies, which perhaps give too much space to humor, will have readers seeking out additional sources to learn more about the individuals discussed. The biographical facts are oversimplified, such as Thomas A. Edison’s claim that “I invented the microphone” (debatable), or could use a little more meat, such as the undefined description of Katherine Johnson as a “human computer” (true, but…), but the experiments are nicely detailed and will be useful. The diversity of characters trying the experiments slightly mitigates the fact that only two of the scientists introduced are people of color and the majority hail from Europe. The inclusion of many women scientists is a great first step, but if there’s a sequel, a globally diverse roster is necessary. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-13.4-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
A useful starting point. (STEM flow chart, glossary) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7112-5182-3
Page Count: 96
Publisher: QEB Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Somewhat silly but slightly muddled; look elsewhere for meaningful guidance on coping with social anxiety.
A cartoon dive into all things embarrassing.
Intending to show that “the better you understand [embarrassment], the better you control it,” Harper explores several common categories of embarrassment (“social oops,” “it’s on you and it shouldn’t be,” “parents in public,” etc.) before including the insights of real-life licensed health counselor Grace Y. Lin (depicted as a pink hippo). A string of characters accompany readers through the book: Badgey, who has “badges for bravery and words of wisdom”; an unnamed anthropomorphic dog who never gets embarrassed; and a host of child characters who act as examples for different scenarios (and who have a range of pink, tan, and brown skin). Busy pages, a two-dimensional character style, and all-caps lettering give the illustrations a doodled feel. Harper’s ultimate conclusion that “embarrassment + time = good story” reminds readers that time—and a sense of humor—can soften embarrassment. However, the book’s center may be lost as readers become bogged down in detailed examples that focus more often on embarrassing scenarios than on offering tools for reframing thinking, making this very much not a book for anyone with social anxiety.
Somewhat silly but slightly muddled; look elsewhere for meaningful guidance on coping with social anxiety. (Graphic nonfiction. 8-11)Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5235-1017-7
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Workman
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
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