Trains a charming spotlight on the determined women who ushered in a brighter future.
Persistent Indian grandmothers become beacons of hope.
Villagers in Tilonia faced hot desert days, dark nights, and deepening drought. Sanjit “Bunker” Roy, a young engineer, visited the village to harvest rainwater. Perturbed by the lack of electricity and use of dangerous kerosene lamps, he taught the men to build solar panels to help light homes and improve daily life. When these men left the village for work, Roy recruited the village grandmothers to continue the project. Enthusiastic but unlettered, they struggled with technical complexities until Roy pivoted to using pictures and simple concepts. Eager for a brighter future, they built circuits, experimented with light and angles, and dreamed of change. Finally, ready to test their hard work, they installed rooftop panels, connected batteries and hung up LED lamps. As darkness descended, the grandmothers said a silent prayer before flipping a switch filling the village with light and hope. From then on, these Solar Mamas became role models for rural communities all over the world. Nookula’s well-crafted account of an uplifting true story is inspired by Roy, who in 1972 founded the community-based Barefoot College. Ali’s vibrant illustrations show both the beauty and harshness of rural Indian life; he offers a heartwarming vision of grandmothers coming together to master technical skills that challenge their traditional roles and improve the lives of others.
Trains a charming spotlight on the determined women who ushered in a brighter future. (information about Sanjit Roy, the Solar Mamas, and solar energy) (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
ISBN: 9781643796482
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere.
This book is buzzing with trivia.
Follow a swarm of bees as they leave a beekeeper’s apiary in search of a new home. As the scout bees traverse the fields, readers are provided with a potpourri of facts and statements about bees. The information is scattered—much like the scout bees—and as a result, both the nominal plot and informational content are tissue-thin. There are some interesting facts throughout the book, but many pieces of trivia are too, well trivial, to prove useful. For example, as the bees travel, readers learn that “onion flowers are round and fluffy” and “fennel is a plant that is used in cooking.” Other facts are oversimplified and as a result are not accurate. For example, monofloral honey is defined as “made by bees who visit just one kind of flower” with no acknowledgment of the fact that bees may range widely, and swarm activity is described as a springtime event, when it can also occur in summer and early fall. The information in the book, such as species identification and measurement units, is directed toward British readers. The flat, thin-lined artwork does little to enhance the story, but an “I spy” game challenging readers to find a specific bee throughout is amusing.
Friends of these pollinators will be best served elsewhere. (Informational picture book. 8-10)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-500-65265-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An in-depth and visually pleasing look at one of the most fundamental forces in the universe.
An introduction to gravity.
The book opens with the most iconic demonstration of gravity, an apple falling. Throughout, Herz tackles both huge concepts—how gravity compresses atoms to form stars and how black holes pull all kinds of matter toward them—and more concrete ones: how gravity allows you to jump up and then come back down to the ground. Gravity narrates in spare yet lyrical verse, explaining how it creates planets and compresses atoms and comparing itself to a hug. “My embrace is tight enough that you don’t float like a balloon, but loose enough that you can run and leap and play.” Gravity personifies itself at times: “I am stubborn—the bigger things are, the harder I pull.” Beautiful illustrations depict swirling planets and black holes alongside racially diverse children playing, running, and jumping, all thanks to gravity. Thorough backmatter discusses how Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity and explains Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. While at times Herz’s explanations may be a bit too technical for some readers, burgeoning scientists will be drawn in.
An in-depth and visually pleasing look at one of the most fundamental forces in the universe. (Informational picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: April 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781668936849
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tilbury House
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
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