Ultimately, too many unconnected facts are dropped in to the text to help children understand her life and accomplishments.
Silent Spring did indeed change the world, but Rachel Carson’s story cannot be folded easily into 32 pages.
By trying to pack so much of the complexity of the naturalist's life and work into this compressed format, awkward construction and lack of clarity abound. Her family owned 65 acres of woods and fields, but her father struggled to support them as a traveling salesman. Her mother is described as “doting,” then “fiercely proud,” then “stern-faced” as Rachel goes off to college to study writing as well as the plants and animals she examined so closely as a child. At 28, Rachel had her whole extended family to support, and she did so as a full-time biologist at the Bureau of Fisheries. Her Silent Spring, which carefully documented the effects of insecticides such as DDT on bird and animal life and ultimately on people, launched a huge governmental effort to eliminate that threat. The story ends with her death, at age 56 in 1964, with details of the revolution she initiated only in the epilogue. Beingessner’s pictures are attractive and well-constructed, as Rachel grows and changes (her clothing elegantly reflecting each time period) beside the fields, forests, waters and oceans she loved and studied.
Ultimately, too many unconnected facts are dropped in to the text to help children understand her life and accomplishments. (source notes) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2370-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s so much actual information here that the story could pass as a textbook, but science and Scieszka fans won't likely...
Kid genius Frank Einstein's back for a second shocking (and silly) science adventure.
While his parents travel around the world, Frank stays with Grampa Al and conducts science investigations with his human friend Watson and his two robot buddies, smart, literal Klink and music-loving, hug-addicted Klank. While Watson tries to perfect his pea shooter, Frank and the robots learn about forces and energy, Newton and Tesla, and they invent a wireless electricity generator. This is a good thing, since evil, not-quite-as-much-of-a-kid-genius T. Edison and his sidekick, er, partner, Mr. Chimp, are buying up and destroying various types of power plants in order to create a monopoly for their hydroelectric dam. Can Frank and his pals stop Edison, or is Midville doomed to have its own energy crisis? Scieszka's second of six science-themed tales is more fact than fiction in the first half. The science-saturated storyline is buoyed by occasional jokes and a plethora of humorous two-color illustrations and diagrams by Biggs. Once the action begins, it doesn’t stop (except for the jokes). Amusing and informative aftermatter includes more science facts and recipes, poetry and experiments, as well as a guide to ASL’s manual alphabet (Mr. Chimp communicates with sign). Final art not seen.
There’s so much actual information here that the story could pass as a textbook, but science and Scieszka fans won't likely mind. (Science fiction/humor. 8-10)Pub Date: March 17, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1483-2
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A solid resource for both introducing and reinforcing patterns.
Goldstone tackles slides, turns, flips and folds in his latest, a look at patterning.
Beginning with the basic example of repeating elements to define a pattern, Goldstone involves readers right from the start by asking them to complete eight basic patterns made with beads on a string (there is an answer key in the back). He then branches out, describing the many ways patterns can be formed, using basic vocabulary in the paragraphs but including “MathSpeak” speech bubbles at the bottoms of the spreads to introduce readers to the real mathematical terms: translation, rotation, 180-degree turn, reflection, symmetry, scaling, tessellation and transformation. Goldstone’s examples and photos are a mix of modern (a brick wall), natural (a honeycomb), world cultural (Malinese mud cloth) and historical (a Peruvian cloak), and he ingeniously uses them to clearly illustrate each of the patterning concepts; readers are likely to find patterns everywhere they look in their homes and communities. A final bright spread depicts a mosaic and challenges readers to find examples of each kind of patterning presented in the book. The backmatter gives children some ideas for creating their own patterns with plastic blocks, stamps and paper cutouts.
A solid resource for both introducing and reinforcing patterns. (Informational picture book. 7-10)Pub Date: March 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9209-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
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