by Simon Winchester & adapted by Dwight Jon Zimmerman ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2008
“… [W]e humans inhabit this planet subject to geological consent, which can be withdrawn, at any time.” Adapted from Winchester’s Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded, August 27, 1883 (2003), this chronicle of the infamous volcanic disaster takes elements from the adult text and renders them child-friendly. The science of volcanic eruptions, the presence of the Dutch (and their East India Company), inventions of the time that kept the world informed, the explosion and its aftermath each get their own sections. A plethora of full-color illustrations, photographs, maps, sidebars and other inserts make for a visual stunner. Zimmerman does what he can to cull information from the original text with mixed results. Much of the book is interesting, but sidebars called “News Briefs” often prove distracting. Though the actual explosion entrances, sometimes the reading bogs down, as in the Invention section of the book. Yet while it may not be the only title on Krakatoa for kids out there, this is still one of the best. (glossary, index, suggested reading) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: May 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-06-123982-3
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Collins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2008
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by Simon Winchester & photographed by Nick Mann & developed by TouchPress
by Seymour Simon ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1993
Remarking that ``nothing about the weather is very simple,'' Simon goes on to describe how the sun, atmosphere, earth's rotation, ground cover, altitude, pollution, and other factors influence it; briefly, he also tells how weather balloons gather information. Even for this outstanding author, it's a tough, complex topic, and he's not entirely successful in simplifying it; moreover, the import of the striking uncaptioned color photos here isn't always clear. One passage—``Cumulus clouds sometimes build up into towering masses called cumulus congestus, or swelling cumulus, which may turn into cumulonimbus clouds''—is superimposed on a blue-gray, cloud-covered landscape. But which kind of clouds are these? Another photo, in blue-black and white, shows what might be precipitation in the upper atmosphere, or rain falling on a darkened landscape, or...? Generally competent and certainly attractive, but not Simon's best. (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-688-10546-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1993
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by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 18, 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
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by Joanna Rzezak ; illustrated by Joanna Rzezak
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