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Reviewer:
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Norma D. Kellam
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Title:
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Art Sticker Book
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ISBN:
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524890
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Review Date:
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November 2009
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Review:
A painting by Vincent van Gogh of his chair serves as a stand-in for a self-portrait. A plain yellow chair with a straw seat represents his ordinary life as a working person. This is one of many interesting explanations about paintings that children will enjoy reading.
Art Sticker Book by Sarah Courtauld and Kate Davies, for ages 9 to about 12, introduces readers to a number of paintings that are in London’s National Gallery. Readers can view many of the paintings in a larger size on the National Gallery website. Check the page prior to the sticker pages for instructions on accessing the site. This paperback book has 32 pages plus ten pages of stickers, providing more than 100 stickers.
Picture frames appear around likenesses of the paintings, which are light gray or have faded traces of color. Readers need to find the sticker that represents each painting in its original colors on the appropriately labeled sticker page and apply it over the faded image. Other stickers consist of a closer view of an aspect of a painting. Not only does this provide the authors with an opportunity to comment on that part of the painting, but it also gives the readers a better view of the enlarged item. One of these close-ups is of a red dog. The text explains that Paul Gauguin “painted the dog red, so that it would really stand out against the green field.” The locations where these close-up stickers belong have the same faded-out appearance, but without a frame. With the addition of the stickers, the pages become quite attractive.
The arrangement of the paintings is by topic, including “Children” and “Hidden Meanings.” A paragraph introduces each topic, such as the one that begins, “Self portraits allowed artists to try out new skills without worrying about what anyone else thought.” Under each painting, a bordered area, such as a rectangle, provides the title and date of the painting and the name of the artist. The dates range from the 13th to the early 20th century. A paragraph beside each painting provides a bit of interesting information about it. An 18th century work by Jean-Siméon Chardin titled “The Young Schoolmistress” depicts a girl teaching a younger child as they both sit at a table. A statement beside it reads, “Some children had to work to earn a living.”
Holly Surplice’s drawings, along with a few by Abigail Brown and Nathalie Oger, decorate the spare space around the paintings and text. The pastel colors of the drawings allow the stronger colors of the paintings to stand out. Beside a painting of a gondola race in Venice, a drawing of this type of boat shows the gondolier giving two children a ride. On another page, a drawing depicts museum visitors looking at two of that page’s paintings.
Whether it’s explanations about a painting of a chair used in place of a self-portrait or about a depicted child working as a teacher, this information makes artwork more interesting. As children enjoy well-known paintings, they develop a foundation for art appreciation.
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Reviewer:
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The Midwest Book Review
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Title:
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Baby Scrapbook
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ISBN:
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519575
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Review Date:
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12/2008
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Review:
This was published in the December 2008 issue of “California Bookwatch”.
Every parent will want to remember the outstanding details and milestones of their child’s growing up. One of the best ways to record and preserve those memories is with a scrapbook. Co-compiled and edited by Katie Daynes and Fiona Watts, “Baby Scrapbook” is a sturdy, spiral bound ‘fill in the blank’ scrapbook guide that children can use to record everything from the day they were born, to their family tree, to birthday and holiday celebrations, and more!
Of special fun worthy note is the section of colorful stickers to use on the various large and easy to handle pages for young fingers. Fun to use and recommended for all families, “Baby Scrapbook” will serve to create a family nostalgic legacy that will last a lifetime.
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Reviewer:
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Danny A. Brass
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Title:
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Bats
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ISBN:
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525415
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Review Date:
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06/09
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Review:
This delightful book for readers 7 years old and up is a wonderful introduction to the exciting world of bats. Various aspects of bat ecology and natural history are presented in an interesting and nicely written format. Some of the many different lifestyles known among bats are discussed, including hibernation, echolocation, roosting behavior, and hunting/feeding strategies (e.g., fruit- and nectar-feeding bats, fish-eating bats, insect-eating bats, and even blood-feeding vampire bats). Interactions with humans, both helpful and harmful, are also considered. The book is beautifully illustrated, with a mixture of photographs and detailed watercolor illustrations. The latter include isolated stand-alone images as well as a number of sequential pictures that help to tell a story. A glossary and index are helpful additions.
Bats is the latest addition to Usborne’s Beginners series. The series currently consists of 50 texts on a wide range of topics. All of the books in the series are internet-linked texts, with dedicated websites that contain handy links to a variety of interesting and educational sites. In addition to relevant video clips and factual information, these sites contain various activities, such as interactive games and quizzes that will help stimulate a child to learn more about a select topic. Inquisitive children will also find plans for making a bat finger puppet, a bat hat, a bat mask, a bat kite, and even an origami bat.
Bats will certainly be a valuable addition to home and school libraries.
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Reviewer:
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Norma D. Kellam
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Title:
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Detective's Handbook
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ISBN:
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523992
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Review Date:
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July 2009
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Review:
Do your children enjoy pretending that they are detectives? Maybe they even plan to follow that career when they grow up.
Detective’s Handbook by Anne Civardi and others, for ages 8 to about 11, explains many of the methods that detectives use to catch criminals, such as disguising themselves, looking for mistakes in a forged painting, and taking fingerprints. The authors write, “Everyone, even identical twins, has different fingerprints.” The text frequently uses second person, addressing young readers as though they were detectives, such as, “When you have questioned each witness, you will have to check their stories and look for the suspects.” This 192-page spiral-bound, hardcover book belongs to the “Hobby Guides” series.
Colin King’s vividly colored cartoon drawings clarify the text, and stimulate readers’ interest. Instead of illustrations, one page has examples of different types of handwriting. Handwritten items can be helpful in finding criminals. Drawings appear on all of the other pages, except for the introduction.
A double page illustration depicts Detective Dodd’s office, with explanations about many of the items in it. Under his table is a “secret foot alarm button.” A six-page story tells about Detective Dodd and Detective Trapper collaborating to solve a crime consisting of robbery of a jewelry and watch store. These detectives also solve various other crimes.
A series of drawings shows a police dog named Petal as she goes through her training. A woman detective, referred to as Petal’s handler, instructs her. One picture depicts Petal climbing up a training prop that represents a high wall as her handler offers encouragement for the difficult task. On the next double page, Petal successfully chases a crook. She follows the crook’s scent and then circles him. If necessary, she grabs a crook’s arm with her teeth to prevent escape.
In a four-page story, detectives Trapper and Dodd, along with Petal and her handler, respond to a nightmare crime in which three crooks break into a camera warehouse. Small sequential pictures with captions relate the events of the story. A drawing depicts detectives Dodd and Trapper putting an overstuffed chair into an open elevator doorway to make the elevator nonfunctional. That limits escape routes, leaving only the stairs and the fire escape. The detectives find of the crooks hiding in a surprising location.
Various puzzles increase the interest level and give the reader’s mind a workout. For one puzzle, readers decide which of eight green autos is the gateway care based on witnesses’ descriptions. The witnesses disagree about how many doors the car has and about which fender has a dent.
The authors write, “A good detective is very observant, noticing small details which most people would miss. Three games improve children’s observation skills. In one of the games, a player puts a number of items on a table. After looking at these items, the other kids look the other way while the first player makes changes. Then they try to determine what has changed.
In addition to providing interesting reading, this book will give your aspiring detective a head start.
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Reviewer:
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Norma D. Kellam
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Title:
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Flip Flap Airport
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ISBN:
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524012
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Review Date:
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June 2009
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Review:
When Humans Fly
Since flying is more complicated for people than for birds, an airport can be an overwhelming place for young children. A new book will help prepare them for their first flight.
Flip Flap Airport by Rob Lloyd Jones, for ages 3 to about 6, belongs to the “Flip Flap Board Books” series. Due to the possibility of flaps becoming detached, this book is unsuitable for children under age 3. Youngsters will learn about various aspects of air travel, including characteristics of an airport, preparation of a plane for flight, and takeoff. The table of contents appears in the upper left-hand corner of the first page.
The bright colors of Stefano Tognetti’s cartoon-style drawings will attract the attention of young children. The first of seven double-page drawings depicts an airport, with numerous people and vehicles in front of it, and a yellow-and-white plane ascending into the sky. The introductory paragraph reads, “Millions of passengers fly from airports like this one each year.” Two men on a scaffold are washing windows. One has dropped his bucket of water, which is about to land on the busy walkway below.
Another double-page shows passengers checking in for a flight and sending their baggage through an x-ray machine. A caption reads, “To board the plane, all passengers have to pass through security checks.” A man is handing his documents to an airport security employee and another man is walking through a metal detector.
When children lift the numerous flaps, they find additional drawings and text. By lifting a flap on a large red-white-and-blue jet, youngsters see the pilot and crew, including a stewardess preparing coffee. Some of the flaps have an additional flap under them. Lifting a flap showing a travel bag and several boxes reveals an animal-carrying-case flap. Under this flap, a brown-and–white cat is looking out of the open case. Children can move a stunt plane in a circle, causing it to disappear into the clouds. Pulling a tab makes a large red-and-white plane take off. Not only will lifting flaps, pulling tabs, and turning a revolving circle keep little ones busy, but these activities will also help develop fine motor skills.
The introductory paragraph for one of the double pages begins, “Some planes only carry cargo, which can mean anything from boxes of toys to elephants going to zoos.” Two depicted planes have an unusual shape with a large superior aspect because they carry large cargo. Lifting the flap on one of these planes reveals two green helicopters inside.
The final double-page illustration shows passengers who have just arrived in the airport from a flight. Some are looking for their bags on a moving belt. Others who already have their bags are headed toward the exit. Two mothers with children are sitting on a bench. Through a large window, a night scene is visible in which a plane has landed.
As your child learns about airports, airplanes and procedures for passengers, the check-in and the flight will go more smoothly. Flying can become an experience to look forward to.
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Reviewer:
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James A. Cox The Midwest Book Review
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Title:
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Noisy Animals
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ISBN:
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515515
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Review Date:
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April 2009
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Review:
Combining board book sturdiness with audio animal sounds, the Usborne Farmyard Tales: Noisy Animals is colorfully illustrated by Stephen Cartwright and offers preschoolers with a simple text that builds line-by-line and page-by-page into a story written by Felicity Brooks of two children who feed breakfast to seven of the barnyard animals who express their appreciation by the distinctive sounds each animal makes. The accompanying sound bar provides an audio reproduction of those moos, neighs, oinks, etc., plus the Apple Tree Farm tractor! Usborne Farmyard Tales: Noisy Animals is a highly recommended addition for family, daycare center, preschool class, and community library collections.
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Reviewer:
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Norma D. Kellam
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Title:
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Story of Science
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ISBN:
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521462
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Review Date:
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4/13/2009
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Review:
With training, honeybees can detect explosives, associating their smell with that of sugar.
The bees swarm to the area of the explosives. This is one of the abundant fascinating facts your children can learn from a new book.
The Story of Science by Anna Claybourne, for ages 8 to about 11, presents the history of numerous scientific discoveries in various fields, including astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, and biology. Data bout scientists include their nationalities, such as “German-born genius Albert Einstein is one of the best-known, yet least understood, scientists of all time.” This enables children to understand that people from all over the world have made significant contributions to human knowledge.
Following the table of contents is an introduction to science. The first use of the word “scientist” occurred in 1833. The final double page of each section gives a history of discoveries in one aspect of that field, such as major discoveries about light for the “Physics” topic. In 1675, Isaac Newton discovered that a prism splits light into different colors. The conclusion of “Prehistoric Finds” varies from the previous pattern by presenting a pictorial timeline of discoveries about early human beings. In 1924, the unearthing in South Africa of a leg bone and skull that were three million years old proved that human beings originated on that continent. Following this final section, a two-page conclusion alerts readers that scientists have significant gaps in their knowledge, such as whether time is real of an illusion.
Adam Larkum’s abundant small carton-style drawings, in pleasing colors, inform and heighten interest. One drawing depicts a huge green bug-like creature with antennas welcoming two Earthlings in spacesuits. The text says that some of the hundreds of planets that astronomers have discovered outside of our solar system might have life-supporting conditions. Another drawing depicts the Petri dish that led to the discovery of
Penicillin. The area around a patch of mold is free of bacteria.
Illustrated information that supplements the basic text appears on the outer third of most pages. A drawing with a spinning Earth in the background shows a man looking at a watch. The accompanying explanation says that the Earth’s spin is slowing and therefore days are slightly lengthening. At one-or two-year intervals, the addition of an extra second is necessary.
A “Timeline of Scientific Discoveries,” provides a good review of the various topics. An entry for about 2, 350 years ago depicts the earth along with the following caption: “Aristotle realizes the Earth is a ball.” A glossary defines terms that might be difficult for readers, such as “ethology”: “The study of animal behavior.” The index includes the names of scientists and other terms dealing with discoveries.
Readers will find instructions for accessing websites that deal with science, thus enabling them to delve deeper into topic of interest. A scientific consultant assisted with this 96-page book with flexi-binding, which belongs to the “Science Stories” series.
Whether it’s honeybees that detect explosives or days that minutely lengthen, scientific facts can be entertaining as well as informative for kids.
For more information, call EDC Publishing at (800) 475-4522
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