Not wonderful.
A Czech import surveys the legendary Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The ancient world was filled with architectural marvels, but few have captivated European-based cultures like its so-called Seven Wonders (which would most accurately be called the Seven Wonders of Cultures Surrounding the Mediterranean). These wonders are the pyramids of Giza, the hanging gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the lighthouse of Alexandria, each of which is discussed herein with varying levels of success in a breezy tone that’s more conversational than educational. When explaining why there are only seven, the author states that, “Well, there are seven days in the week, seven sacraments, and seven virtues. In the Middle Ages, there were even seven liberal arts. The number seven denotes completeness and mysticism—what do you think?” In other words: shrug emoji. Savvy readers may point out that the seven sacraments, virtues, and liberal arts were grouped after the ancient wonders and are culturally defined rather than universal. Fact and fiction blur more with specific wonders. The text acknowledges that the hanging gardens may not have existed but also lists a recipe for how the walls were constructed. The Colossus of Rhodes fairs slightly better, although a conversation written into the text has no historical basis. The absence of citations and a bibliography means curious readers will be left stranded. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not wonderful. (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-80-00-06134-4
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Albatros Media
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
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
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both.
Flash, Batman, and other characters from the DC Comics universe tackle supervillains and STEM-related topics and sometimes, both.
Credited to 20 writers and illustrators in various combinations, the 10 episodes invite readers to tag along as Mera and Aquaman visit oceanic zones from epipelagic to hadalpelagic; Supergirl helps a young scholar pick a science-project topic by taking her on a tour of the solar system; and Swamp Thing lends Poison Ivy a hand to describe how DNA works (later joining Swamp Kid to scuttle a climate-altering scheme by Arcane). In other episodes, various costumed creations explain the ins and outs of diverse large- and small-scale phenomena, including electricity, atomic structure, forensic techniques, 3-D printing, and the lactate threshold. Presumably on the supposition that the characters will be more familiar to readers than the science, the minilectures tend to start from simple basics, but the figures are mostly both redrawn to look more childlike than in the comics and identified only in passing. Drawing styles and page designs differ from chapter to chapter but not enough to interrupt overall visual unity and flow—and the cast is sufficiently diverse to include roles for superheroes (and villains) of color like Cyborg, Kid Flash, and the Latina Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz. Appended lists of websites and science-based YouTube channels, plus instructions for homespun activities related to each episode, point inspired STEM-winders toward further discoveries.
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both. (Graphic nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-382-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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