by Pascale Estellon ; illustrated by Pascale Estellon ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2014
Pretty to look at but marred by visual errors.
French illustrator Estellon explores the idea of time in this concept book for young readers.
From one second to one century, the idea of time and its measurement is discussed in terms that any youngster can understand. It takes a second to create a swirly doodle and an hour to bake a pound cake (recipe included). Giving clear instructions on how to make a paper clock, Estellon encourages readers to use one to learn to tell time. Eventually, the author includes easy-to-solve quizzes (with answers upside down at the bottoms of the pages). Interesting facts—“meridian” of a.m. and p.m. comes from the Latin word for midday or noon, for instance—will keep adults interested as well. She even explains the knuckle-reading trick for telling whether a month has 31 days or is a short month. The text explains that years are 365 days, but no mention is made of leap years. Unfortunately, in most illustrations, the hour hand stays firmly on the hour, even when the minute hand points to an interim moment on the dial. That might be the way the French teach time to children, but in America, children are taught that the hour hand moves with the minute hand, and these illustrations will confuse them.
Pretty to look at but marred by visual errors. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-77147-006-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
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BOOK REVIEW
by Pascale Estellon ; illustrated by Pascale Estellon
by Kimberly Wilson ; illustrated by Mark Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2022
Combining a dash of math with buckets of good humor, this book is certainly like money in the bank.
A newly minted penny searches for meaning.
“Hot off the minting press, Penny sparkled,” the story begins, but her initial gusto turns to sorrow when it becomes clear that the world only sees her as a lowly cent, fit to be ignored. As she is jostled about by the tide of circumstance, she meets various coins and types of paper who enlighten her on the ways of the world. Sticking out of an open purse, Bill Bill, a $1 note cowpoke, cautions her that “it takes a hundred of you to do what I do.” In a video game arcade, Quarter coolly explains that “slot surfin’ is quarters-only. You’re twenty-four cents short.” In a sweet shop, donnish Dime subjects Penny to a cogent history lesson about inflation’s effects on so-called “penny candy.” Nickel, a morose street coin with beard stubble, turns down her offer to pair up. Penny hits a low point when she encounters an alarming newspaper headline: “THE GREAT PENNY DEBATE: ARE THEY WORTHLESS?” Thankfully, her fortunes shift upon meeting another penny who encourages her (“Heads up…we’re good luck when we put our best face forward!”) and leads her to the one place where she and her kind are truly valued. Filled with clever and chucklesome wordplay, Wilson’s spry narrative is engaging but also educational, providing a solid, accessible introduction to basic money equivalents. Hoffmann’s illustrations, rendered in acrylic, colored pencil, and pan pastel with digital touches, incorporate comicslike sound effects and nimbly extend the text with comedic touches.
Combining a dash of math with buckets of good humor, this book is certainly like money in the bank. (facts, author’s note, chart, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64567-468-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
by Kimberly Wilson ; illustrated by Mark Hoffmann
by Phil Rosenthal & Lily Rosenthal ; illustrated by Luke Flowers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024
Amusing but misleading on the nutritional and behavioral fronts.
With one taste of despised mustard, a child pivots from rejecting new foods to seeking them.
Dad takes Lil to a food truck festival. Lil, who narrates the story, is nervous; this child’s list of acceptable foods is short (pizza, rice, grilled cheese, french fries, and vanilla ice cream). Dad loves varied tastes and repeatedly reminds Lil of his rule: “Just try it!” With a “YECCCH!” or an “EWWWWWW!” Lil refuses a bagel loaded with toppings, linguini with clams, Peking duck, pizza with spinach and garlic, and a pretzel covered with Lil’s most hated of foods: mustard. Frustrated, Lil accidentally knocks the pretzel onto Dad’s shirt. Lil apologizes, takes a lick of mustard…and instantly learns to appreciate every rejected offering. Lil then uses the title mantra to pressure Dad onto a nausea-inducing roller-coaster ride. Bright, cartoon-style illustrations emphasize the pair's upbeat mood. Food neophobia, or an aversion to eating anything novel, has complex psychosocial roots. But in this blithe little fable, the child’s resistance is completely overcome with a single accidental exposure, and the formerly picky eater immediately becomes a novelty seeker. The turnaround here is implausible; if this book creates any expectations of a sudden dramatic change in a child’s behavior, that would be a disservice. Both Dad and Lil are light-skinned.
Amusing but misleading on the nutritional and behavioral fronts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781665942638
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
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