A lighthearted compendium of interesting information and engaging, hands-on activities with gobs of kid appeal.
From arachnids to zits, 114 "ick-speriments, ick-tivities, and ick-splorations" invite young experimenters to investigate the workings of their world.
This lively title covers a selection of biological, chemical, physical, and earth science concepts through alphabetically organized subjects with gross kid appeal: slime, snot, and spit; mummies and sinkholes; farts and vomit; pee and poop; fossils and fungi; forensics; and waste of all kinds. Even when this companion to Oh, Yuck (2000) covers the same topic, both text and activities are different. The authors begin with the steps of the scientific method and safety rules. Connected activities are presented in recipe format with a list of ingredients, expected time, and clear step-by-step directions with photographs. Most materials are easily available. A “what just happened” section also explains the why of likely results. Safety precautions are stressed, and adult help is requested with stoves and sharp knives. Among the basic concepts are acids and bases, elements, molecules, chemical formulas, DNA, and human body systems. The energetic design includes cartoon illustrations; humans have varying skin tones. This collection should get plenty of use in homes, classrooms, and libraries as a resource for science-fair participants. The paper binding might not stand up to the wear, but the title is also available as an e-book.
A lighthearted compendium of interesting information and engaging, hands-on activities with gobs of kid appeal. (index, credits not seen) (Nonfiction. 8-14)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7611-8738-7
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Workman
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Like oil itself, this is a book that needs to be handled with special care.
In 1977, the oil carrier Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil into a formerly pristine Alaskan ocean inlet, killing millions of birds, animals, and fish. Despite a cleanup, crude oil is still there.
The Winters foretold the destructive powers of the atomic bomb allusively in The Secret Project (2017), leaving the actuality to the backmatter. They make no such accommodations to young audiences in this disturbing book. From the dark front cover, on which oily blobs conceal a seabird, to the rescuer’s sad face on the back, the mother-son team emphasizes the disaster. A relatively easy-to-read and poetically heightened text introduces the situation. Oil is pumped from the Earth “all day long, all night long, / day after day, year after year” in “what had been unspoiled land, home to Native people // and thousands of caribou.” The scale of extraction is huge: There’s “a giant pipeline” leading to “enormous ships.” Then, crash. Rivers of oil gush out over three full-bleed wordless pages. Subsequent scenes show rocks, seabirds, and sea otters covered with oil. Finally, 30 years later, animals have returned to a cheerful scene. “But if you lift a rock… // oil / seeps / up.” For an adult reader, this is heartbreaking. How much more difficult might this be for an animal-loving child?
Like oil itself, this is a book that needs to be handled with special care. (author’s note, further reading) (Informational picture book. 9-12)Pub Date: March 31, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5344-3077-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information.
Two youngsters embark on a journey peppered with history, trivia, and skits while teaching money lessons.
Meet Mellody and John, the young stars of this currency showcase. Their very first dialogue offers a taste of the intriguing information to come, from the ancient Mayans’ use of cacao beans as payment to the origins of the piggy bank. The book offers a chronologically and geographically broad timeline of the history of money, encompassing the past 3.9 billion years (starting with meteorite crashes that scattered metals—“the very first bank deposit”) and referencing practices across five continents. Readers will find themselves eagerly sharing the facts gleaned here, including the centuries-old origins of terms and expressions still used today. Mellody and John’s fun banter crucially reflects their experiences with money, such as their families’ differing attitudes toward allowances. Both are savers as well as givers, sharing stories about giving to charity. In one especially entertaining section, a cat and a bunny converse in money-related catchphrases that are separately defined at the bottom of each page. Stevens’ watercolors are appropriately realistic and appealing, whether depicting Mellody’s pretend bank or Elizabeth II’s butler ironing a 10-pound note. Messages about money’s use as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, ensure that readers will think about their own purposes for their savings. Mellody and John are Black.
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781536224719
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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