by Traci N. Todd & illustrated by Sara Gillingham ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2006
A mixed bag of stock outer space–themed images, familiar archival photographs and colorful retro-feeling illustrations are partnered with the alphabet to introduce young readers to a wide variety of space topics, ranging from freeze-dried ice cream to Yuri Gagarin, the first human space traveler. Each letter, presented in alphabetical order, is allotted at least its own full page, and some letters, like E, which represents Earth, get entire double-page spreads. Each letter introduces from one to three space topics, which each feature an image and corresponding short descriptive statement. Some statements are silly, like “golf balls left on the Moon by astronaut Alan Shepard,” while others are serious, such as “Flares: bursts of energy that flash from the Sun.” Although the short statements could be more substantive together with the accompanying images, this text presents just enough information to launch young readers into a quest for deeper knowledge. (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-8118-5462-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2006
Share your opinion of this book
More by Traci N. Todd
BOOK REVIEW
by Traci N. Todd ; illustrated by Shannon Wright
BOOK REVIEW
by Traci N. Todd ; illustrated by Laura Freeman
BOOK REVIEW
by Traci N. Todd ; illustrated by Christian Robinson
by Phyllis Root ; illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2017
This pleasant look at gardening in a city setting reflects a growing trend.
Several inner-city children work together to plant seeds and cultivate their own gardens, transforming their little “anywhere farms” into a lush, green community garden covering a vacant city lot.
A pink-cheeked little girl in overalls receives a single seed from a helpful tan-skinned neighbor on the title page, and she then inspires a flurry of gardening in her neighborhood with children and adults of different ethnicities joining in, including a white boy who uses a wheelchair. The bouncy, rhyming text conveys the basic requirements of growing plants from seeds as well as suggesting a wide variety of unusual containers for growing plants. Several leading questions about the plant growth cycle are interspersed within the story, set in large type on full pages that show a seed gradually sprouting and growing into a huge sunflower on the final, wordless page. The joyful text makes growing flowers and vegetables seem easy, showing plants spilling out of alternative containers as well as more traditional raised beds and the concluding, large garden plot. The text focuses on the titular concept of an “anywhere farm,” without differentiating between farms and gardens, but this conceit is part of the amusing, rollicking tone. Detailed, soft-focus illustrations in mixed media use an autumnal palette of muted green, peach, and tan that don’t quite match the buoyant flavor of the cheerful text.
This pleasant look at gardening in a city setting reflects a growing trend. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7499-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
Share your opinion of this book
More by Phyllis Root
BOOK REVIEW
by Phyllis Root & Gary D. Schmidt ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet
BOOK REVIEW
by Liza Ketchum & Jacqueline Briggs Martin & Phyllis Root ; illustrated by Claudia McGehee
BOOK REVIEW
by Phyllis Root ; illustrated by Betsy Bowen
by Marie Boyd ; illustrated by Marie Boyd ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2023
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative.
What can a worm do?
A little worm sets off on a “twirl” to “see the world.” But when it overhears a human referring to it as “just a worm,” its feelings are hurt. The worm asks other critters—including a caterpillar, a spider, a dragonfly—what they can do. After each answer (turn into a butterfly, spin silk thread, fly), the worm becomes more and more dejected because it can’t do any of these things. “Maybe I am just a worm.” But then the worm encounters a ladybug, who eats aphids and other insects, and the worm realizes that it eats dead plants and animals and keeps gardens clean. And though the worm can’t pollinate like the bee, it does create castings (poop) that help plants grow and stay healthy. These abilities, the worm realizes in triumph, are important! The cleverness of this story lies in its lighthearted, effective dissemination of information about various insects as well as earthworms. It doesn’t hurt that the expressive little worm is downright adorable, with emotions that will resonate with anyone who has felt unimportant. The stunning illustrations are done in quilled paper—a centuries-old technique that involves assembling strips of colored paper into shapes—which adds sparkle and originality. A tutorial of how to make a quilled butterfly and a page on earthworm facts round out the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-321256-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
Share your opinion of this book
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.