Next book

THE BIG BOOK OF BELONGING

Pretty and enthusiastic—but insubstantial despite its heft.

Learn about our many connections to the natural world.

Double-page spreads of colorful natural scenes greet readers with four to six trivia facts grouped loosely within a theme. Some of the information is fairly vague (if lyrical); an autumn fact states that “berries ripen and mushrooms burst from the damp ground,” but that’s species- and location-specific. Other statements are oversimplified to the point of inaccuracy, as when readers are told, “Fava beans can send chemical messages to each other through their roots.” Technically, these plants are communicating via a symbiotic connection that exists among many species (not just fava beans) and a fungus in the soil. The inclusion of some statements is downright baffling, as in one that states, “Some people think the [Coriolis effect] happens in bath tubs!” Since scientists have stated for decades that there are too many variables in bathtub construction for this to be the case, why say that “some people think” so? There are no citations or bibliography, so caregivers and educators hoping to help curious readers learn more will have to scramble for additional information. A glossary of just six words and a seek-and-find game are pretty anemic additions.

Pretty and enthusiastic—but insubstantial despite its heft.   (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-500-65264-0

Page Count: 64

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021

Next book

1001 BEES

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

Next book

PRICELESS FACTS ABOUT MONEY

From the Mellody on Money series

A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information.

Two youngsters embark on a journey peppered with history, trivia, and skits while teaching money lessons.

Meet Mellody and John, the young stars of this currency showcase. Their very first dialogue offers a taste of the intriguing information to come, from the ancient Mayans’ use of cacao beans as payment to the origins of the piggy bank. The book offers a chronologically and geographically broad timeline of the history of money, encompassing the past 3.9 billion years (starting with meteorite crashes that scattered metals—“the very first bank deposit”) and referencing practices across five continents. Readers will find themselves eagerly sharing the facts gleaned here, including the centuries-old origins of terms and expressions still used today. Mellody and John’s fun banter crucially reflects their experiences with money, such as their families’ differing attitudes toward allowances. Both are savers as well as givers, sharing stories about giving to charity. In one especially entertaining section, a cat and a bunny converse in money-related catchphrases that are separately defined at the bottom of each page. Stevens’ watercolors are appropriately realistic and appealing, whether depicting Mellody’s pretend bank or Elizabeth II’s butler ironing a 10-pound note. Messages about money’s use as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, ensure that readers will think about their own purposes for their savings. Mellody and John are Black.

A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024

ISBN: 9781536224719

Page Count: 80

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024

Close Quickview