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BUILDING MANHATTAN

Name: BUILDING MANHATTAN
Author: Laura Vila
ISBN: 978-0-670-06284-3

by Laura Vila & illustrated by Laura Vila ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2008

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In a sequence of paintings that are colloquies of color, Vila traces the development of Manhattan from uninhabited island to teeming metropolis. Applying paint thinly so that the texture of the canvas shows through, she emphasizes warm browns and yellows in depicting pompom-like trees and a rich array of wildlife, which then gives way in succession to early Lenape, Dutch and English settlers and to great waves of other immigrants. Two huge bridges span the East River, modern traffic fills a complex swirl of paved interchanges and tourists tote bags covered in stickers from all over the world. Perspectives range from high angles to vertiginous, straight-up ground-level looks at towering skyscrapers. Each picture comes with a one-line caption (“These settlers built a colony, and then a nation where new freedoms grew”), supplemented at the end with a brief annotated timeline. This historical approach sets her engaging debut apart from others of its ilk and will give young visitors and residents both some insight into how the city has changed over the centuries. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-9)

Pub Date: May 1, 2008

ISBN: 978-0-670-06284-3

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2008

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY

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FROZEN MAN

by David Getz & illustrated by Peter McCarty ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1994

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The ``Iceman'' was found in 1991 in the ôtztal Alps on the border between Austria and Italy. When two mountain climbers came upon the body, they suspected that it was a dead—perhaps murdered—mountaineer. They contacted the authorities, who nearly destroyed the body removing it from the ice. Luckily, more informed people arrived and realized that this was no ordinary accident victim. They suspected the body was extremely old. Little did they dream that the Iceman was actually over 5,000 years old—the oldest, best- preserved human body ever discovered. Through studying the body, scientists have learned much about the late Stone Age. Not only was the Iceman himself recovered, but also his tools, clothing, food, and gear. A find like this is a bonanza for archaeologists. Because of the circumstances of the Iceman's death—the time of year, the protected location, etc.—scientists now have a record of how our ancestors used to hunt, dress, prevent disease, and more. Getz (Almost Famous, 1992, etc.) explains the incredible story of the Iceman clearly and concisely, simply enough for a child to understand but in enough depth to satisfy a curious lay adult. (Index; glossary; bibliography) (Nonfiction. 7-9)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1994

ISBN: 0-8050-3261-4

Page Count: 68

Publisher: Henry Holt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1994

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY

- BOOK REVIEW
PURPLE DEATH
by David Getz & illustrated by Peter McCarthy

- BOOK REVIEW
FLOATING HOME
by David Getz & illustrated by Michael Rex

- BOOK REVIEW
ALMOST FAMOUS
by David Getz

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THE STORY OF PASSOVER

by Norma Simon & illustrated by Erika Weihs ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 1997

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A gentle retelling of the Passover story, first published in 1965 with pictures by Symeon Shimin, has been newly illustrated by Weihs. She enhances and extends the text by showing Jews of many ethnic groups and races, in various family configurations, in the US and abroad. The oil paintings, in a palette of subdued lilac, sand, hazy green, and aqua, have a dreamy quality, eliminating precise details in favor of mood. That may be why readers unfamiliar with aspects of the holiday will find some details puzzling—the proclamation, ``A large dish called the Seder Plate is filled with foods that remind us of the time in Egypt,'' appears on one page, with explanations of the food and what each one symbolizes appearing several pages later. Simon concludes with recipes and some suggestions for creating Passover place cards. Those looking for a general overview of Passover's rituals and background will find this charmingly low-key. (Picture book. 6-8)