A stunning exploration of butterfly cycles, care, and collective action—exceptional in both form and purpose.
The multifaceted concept of kaleidoscope—a term that describes a group of butterflies and an instrument made up of pieces reflecting “beautiful moving patterns”—structures an examination of metamorphosis and environmental stewardship.
Paul alternates between lyrical verse that traces a butterfly’s journey and informational passages that deepen readers’ understanding of everything from eggs to chrysalises, creating a rhythm that mirrors the cycle itself. Sections (“A Kaleidoscope of Hope,” “…of Growth,” “…of Change,” “…of Preparation,” “…of Exploration,” and “…of Action”) organize the narrative into digestible chunks while building toward a call to action. Hari and Deepti’s artwork is stellar; their three-dimensional sculptures—crafted with paper, glue, paper clay, and watercolor paint, then photographed—create mesmerizing circular compositions that explode with monarch wings, chrysalises, and caterpillars in kaleidoscopic formations. The turquoise, white, and green backgrounds provide serene negative space that lets the intricate butterflies pop, while close-up spreads reveal the remarkable texture of their layered craft. The marriage of art and science is seamless—pages dense with ecological information sit comfortably alongside spreads where minimal text floats among wings. The backmatter extends the book’s mission with practical steps for creating butterfly habitats and a behind-the-scenes look at the artists’ sculptural process; this isn’t just a beautiful nature study, but an achievable invitation to participate in both art and conservation.
A stunning exploration of butterfly cycles, care, and collective action—exceptional in both form and purpose. (author’s note, sources) (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9780063144101
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute.
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character.
Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781683693864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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