Couching his presentation in warlike terms, Collard describes the strategies used by a variety of scientists against the occupation of parts of the United States and its territories by harmful exotic species. Brown tree snakes in Guam, red fire ants in the Southern states, Melaleuca trees in the Everglades and zebra mussels in Minnesota are his examples. Weapons include biological control agents and public education as well as old-fashioned hand removal. This title is thoroughly researched and clearly written, and it provides suggestions for reader action and further investigation on the Internet—but the focus is more on the species than the scientists, a departure for this otherwise excellent series. Although the text is extensively illustrated with color photographs, some choices are curious: Pictures of research buildings, a Hawaiian surfer and an unspoiled New Zealand seacoast fill space but don’t add information. Finally, the dense font may put off middle-school readers. Libraries will want this for teen research, but it does not have the appeal of other volumes in the highly regarded Scientists in the Field series. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)
Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-618-75636-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2008
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201835-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-292858-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
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