Inspiring role models and some cautionary tales.
Fifty timeless, fascinating, and instructive female figures in still-vital traditions and cultures all around the world.
Like all abiding myths, the stories of these saintly, divine, or spirit-women reflect enduring human wishes, hopes, and fears. Organized by tens in categories (Ruling and Guiding, New Life, War and Death, Love and Wisdom, Animals and Nature), many transcend their placement and could fit into other groups. Concise but detailed profiles discuss the goddess’ names, powers, famous myths, and iconography. Explanations of how believers saw each figure over time add both clarity and complexity. Many goddesses are overall positive forces, like the Yoruba deity Oshun, “the source of all good things.” Others are more complex (like Babylonian goddess Tiamat) or even terrifying (Hindu goddess Kali). Creation, civilization, family and political conflict, survival, and protection are among the many recurring themes. Varied views of what it means to be a woman (or man; men are often involved in the stories) are eye-opening. Many figures are still venerated today; one, based on a historical Chinese woman, was reportedly sighted as recently as 2016. Strikingly stylized, colorful, and iconlike illustrations depict the goddesses and typically incorporate characteristic symbols and story components. They’re visually pleasing but also informative, such as with Baba Yaga’s mortar and pestle. A glossary covers terms like Hinduism and Sumeria, but overall, readers get limited help with pronunciation.
Inspiring role models and some cautionary tales. (Nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9798887770109
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
How and when the Western Hemisphere, particularly North and South America, came to be populated continues to be both mysterious and controversial for scientists. Archaeologists plug away with the tools at their disposal but have “more questions than answers.” Harrison does a good job setting the issue in context. He describes the earliest efforts to identify the original inhabitants of the continents, exploring the Clovis culture, believed by many to be the first humans to reach North America. After clearly explaining how scholars decided that they were first, he then lists the arguments against this hypothesis. In the course of looking at both sides, he introduces young readers to “the strict rules of archaeology.” The author demonstrates the precise work of those attempting to understand the hidden aspects of human history and how many of these old questions are seen in the light of new technologies and discoveries. The narrative is aided by both photographs and original illustrations that imagine scenes from both the distant past and the field experiences. (glossary, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59078-561-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2010
"A human is a pretty wild thing," argues the author of this collection of curious facts and intriguing studies about human behavior. With a breezy text supported by a lively design, the author of Gross Universe (2004) again presents science in a way certain to attract middle-grade and middle-school readers. Chapters on the senses, emotions, communication and interactions with other human beings cover a variety of topics, each on headlined double-page spreads. Each chapter includes a description of “a cool study” organized into appropriate sections: question, observation, experiment (illustrated with step by step cartoons), results and summary. “Are you an animal?” sidebars describe comparable animal behavior. From dirty diapers to canned laughter to body language, he finds topics that both appeal and enlighten. Directly addressing readers, he invites participation by asking questions—“How are you sitting right now?” “Does smell affect your dreams?” “Does your heart race when….?”—and draws them in further with do-it-yourself experiments. A section on good manners even includes guidelines for behavior at a concert—differentiating between classical and rock. The digital art includes bits of photographs, line drawings, the use of color and shapes to help organize the print and plenty of symbols. No specific sources are cited, but an extensive list of experts is acknowledged. Popular science through and through, you can’t help enjoying this. (index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-926818-07-8
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Maple Tree Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2011
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