A clever concept and striking photographs, but the text falls short.
Wild animals explain why they yawn—and more about their species—in this guide by wildlife photographer Geigert.
Animals yawn for different reasons, and some animals “catch” each other’s yawns, just like humans do. On each page, Geigert offers an entry from the animal’s point of view and one photograph. At the top, a green banner provides short, engaging text designed to be read aloud to, or with, preschool readers. Most pages offer a reason behind the yawn in the photograph: “I yawn when the bugs bite me,” the dhole informs readers, then asks, “Do you yawn when you get bug bites?” Descriptions compare and contrast animal and human responses—“Does your mommy yawn also?” asks the wallaby. Young audiences will giggle at the comparisons. (The jaguar encourages readers to try to yawn with their tongues hanging out, something young readers are sure to attempt to imitate.) Below the text for young readers, the smallish photograph is accompanied by longer text for independent readers describing more details about the animal: habitat, physical characteristics and behaviors, and endangerment status (“There are over 100 species of Lemurs, and we are the most critically endangered animal in the world. We are only found in Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world”). This section varies in quality across the book; the first-person narrative is sometimes clunky, especially when Geigert offers facts that seem beyond the animal’s ken. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t suggest how young conservationists can help endangered animals. Geigert’s yawning photographs are fantastic, however, catching a camel, hippo, antelope, and more with mouths agape, so it’s a shame that the photographs aren’t larger.
A clever concept and striking photographs, but the text falls short.Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951775-83-4
Page Count: 42
Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 6, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to...
This entry-level early reader/picture book pairs children with farm animals.
Using a simple, effective template—a full-page photograph on the recto page and a bordered spot photo above the text on the verso—Rotner delivers an amiable picture book that presents racially and ethnically diverse kids interacting (mostly in the cuddling department) with the adult and baby animals typically found on a farm. Chickens, chicks, cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, pigs, piglets, cows, and calves are all represented. While a couple of double-page spreads show the larger adult animals—pigs and cows—without a child, most of the rest portray a delighted child hugging a compliant critter. The text, simple and repetitive, changes only the name for the animal depicted in the photo on that spread: “I like the cat”; “I like the piglet.” In this way, reading comprehension for new readers is supported in an enjoyable, appealing way, since the photo of the animal reinforces the new word. It’s hard to go wrong combining cute kids with adorable animals, but special kudos must be given for the very natural way Rotner has included diversity—it’s especially gratifying to see diversity normalized and validated early, at the same time that reading comprehension is taught.
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to like? (Picture book/early reader. 2-6)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3833-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2017
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
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