An engrossing, adrenaline-fueled astronomical account.
A play-by-play “celestial slugfest.”
Two heavenly bodies—an out-of-shape asteroid and a speedy comet—are on a collision course, headed for an “incredible interplanetary smackdown.” Astrophysicist Kuchner frames his tale as a heavyweight matchup. Which object will survive? A robust intro to astronomy follows: What does a comet look like? What is an asteroid? Where do these objects come from? The contenders are assessed on a variety of metrics—temperature, speed, weight, and density—while extra information, like the meaning of ellipse or orbit, is slipped in under the ropes. The narrator channels a sportscaster’s voice, with lively vocabulary (careen, bean, pummel) providing bonus zing. Asteroids “range from hefty heaps of rock to metal monsters”; the physical and chemical makeup of the book’s comet earns it the moniker “cow-burp Popsicle” (since comets often contain frozen methane, a gas produced when cows belch). The pace speeds up as the crash nears, and Kuchner generates enough excitement to carry readers through the appended pages of astronomical information. Schu’s colorful, dramatic illustrations, in classic 1950s comic book graphic style, are a perfect match for the text and depict diverse citizen scientists. The opening endpapers portray blobby asteroids, while the closing endpapers feature streaky bursts of comets, all named.
An engrossing, adrenaline-fueled astronomical account. (Informational picture book. 7-10)Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781536227352
Page Count: 48
Publisher: MIT Kids Press/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 10, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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