The perfect book for now. Horrified by demons of disorder, alarmed by the forces of discord, wandering in the wilderness of ignorance with ogres of diThe perfect book for now. Horrified by demons of disorder, alarmed by the forces of discord, wandering in the wilderness of ignorance with ogres of disinformation nipping at your heels? Give yourself a treat and read, or listen to The Phantom Tollbooth. The reading by Rainn Wilson is a treat and the introduction by Norton Juster is worth the price of entry. What a pleasure to be in the hands of a wise funny man who knew how to say a thing and when to stop saying it. This is a perfect family read aloud. Able to charm, engage and amuse all ages. Bravo...more
4 1/2 stars. From childhood Barbara was driven by a love of science. Born in 1906 her joyful interests propelled her, enabling her to repeatedly defy 4 1/2 stars. From childhood Barbara was driven by a love of science. Born in 1906 her joyful interests propelled her, enabling her to repeatedly defy gender conventions and push through constraints to make groundbreaking genetic discoveries. Twelve short chapters that focus on Barbara’s life and legacy are supported by ten substantive asides that explain scientific concepts or provide historic background. Many charming vignettes in 1950s hues illustrate scenes from Barbara’s life and clarify scientific ideas. Readers gain an enhanced understanding of genetic research and an appreciation of a unique individual whose delight in pursuing her passion allowed her to disregard sexism, scorn, and slights, eventually earning a Nobel Prize at eighty-one. A few final asides raise questions that distract focus. A digression on using gene splicing to recreate wooly mammoths to help with climate change - something about them reducing arctic snow cover by stomping on snow and thus less sunlight is reflected, or the earth is less insulated / some tricky counter intuitive theory - unfairly pulls attention from the more than worthy woman and her research on corn. Extensive back matter includes illustrated timeline, glossary, source notes, bibliography, additional reading, photo credits, and index....more
A young girl’s abiding interest in owls is encouraged by her knowledgeable teacher, Mr. Koji, and her supportive mom. Tirelessly the child researches A young girl’s abiding interest in owls is encouraged by her knowledgeable teacher, Mr. Koji, and her supportive mom. Tirelessly the child researches and explores, hoping to see an owl in the wild. Charming, scratchy pen-and-ink drawings, washed with pastel watercolor, show scenes in classrooms, the field, and glimpses of the girl’s illustrated journal of facts and findings. Readers gain owl knowledge, learn how to craft a scientific pursuit, and experience the emotional reward of passionate perseverance. Main characters have light tan skin. No back matter is included....more
Charming, lively, colorful the biography introduces readers to the independent, quirky and talented artist who followed his own path. Goreys personaliCharming, lively, colorful the biography introduces readers to the independent, quirky and talented artist who followed his own path. Goreys personality comes through. I only wish one of his drawings had been included in the back matter ...more
Gorgeous illustrations and an inspiring story of the first woman to climb Everest, who went on to organize environmental protection for mountains.
SpecGorgeous illustrations and an inspiring story of the first woman to climb Everest, who went on to organize environmental protection for mountains.
Spectacular illustrations and lyrical text reveal the dynamic, change-making life of a supremely joyful and determined Japanese woman. From childhood Junko’s love of mountains fueled a dream to climb. Pushing back against conventions and constraints Junko led the first women’s Everest expedition, becoming the first female to summit. More than a mountaineer, she spearheaded international efforts to clean up decades of climbing waste, preserving the landscape she loved. Dynamically colored and patterned india ink and digital illustrations borrow from Japanese woodblock prints, manga, and Marc Chagall. Every spread is a visually rich story in itself. Back matter includes author’s note, timeline, glossary, source notes, and bibliography....more
Gorgeous illustrations of parallel stories. One man stays at home, rooted as an oak. Another travels the world, taken by the tides. Intriguing observaGorgeous illustrations of parallel stories. One man stays at home, rooted as an oak. Another travels the world, taken by the tides. Intriguing observations and comparisons and a great book to prompt thought and discussion....more
A splendid biography of a woman scientist of world historic importance. Great parallel structure. The majority of each spread focuses on the chronologA splendid biography of a woman scientist of world historic importance. Great parallel structure. The majority of each spread focuses on the chronological experience of Cecilia, illustrated by Roy's realistic watercolor, crayon and ink paintings. The margins show atmospheric paintings of deep space with italicized, poetic text that both refers to the formation of stars and metaphorically applies to the biographic scene at the center. Several pages in the backmatter put together the deep space paintings and text, and add succinct and compelling explanations of the process of star creation. A timeline and bibliography are included....more
An exploration of various caves inspires the young reader. Opening with "do you dare?" we learn about caves all over the world. Some contain miraculouAn exploration of various caves inspires the young reader. Opening with "do you dare?" we learn about caves all over the world. Some contain miraculous minerals, amazing natural features, evidence of lost civilizations, massive populations of exceptional animals, unique fossil remnants. Poetic language introduces each intriguing cavern and a paragraph of text fills in some details. A satisfying conclusion invites participation, letting us know that "[a]ll over the world caves wait. Filled with our past, our future. Undiscovered." waiting for explorers like us. Back matter includes cave rules and spelunking equipment....more
Wow, was this disappointing. Less biography and more hagiography and indoctrination. I do not feel the child reader is either respected or entertainedWow, was this disappointing. Less biography and more hagiography and indoctrination. I do not feel the child reader is either respected or entertained. In a book about curiosity and the quest for knowledge only one question is asked, and tellingly it is never answered. As readers are introduced to Attenborough's interest in nature, we learn he breaks open a rock and discovers an ammonite and asks "Why were there so many different kinds of ammonites?" An interesting question that is never addressed. Nor is it mentioned that during the period of ammonite flourishing the carbon levels of the atmosphere were between 6,000 parts per million and 1,000 parts per million. (Today it is 419.3 parts per million) What is pointed out is that at Attenborough's birth 2/3 of the world were wild places. Again, that is not compared to anything. Nor is it mentioned that at his birth there were 2 billion people on earth - 25% of whom lived, like Attenborough, in Europe. Today there are 8 billion people only 9% of whom live in Europe. The reader gets no sense of Attenborough's personality. None of the struggles he must have engaged in and overcome are mentioned. What we do get are creepy, Mao-like images of acolytes gathered round him adoringly. (In one a woman is so moved she places her hand on her heart - gag me.) It is ludicrous and irresponsible to champion ideas like rewilding, clean energy and avoiding meat without addressing trade offs. I think all of those things can be good ideas, but they can also be environmentally disastrous. Many of the bits and bobs of green energy are energy intensive to manufacture, full of toxins and heavy metals and impossible to recycle. They also, with the exception of hydropower, take up a lot of land. Yes, we should address environmental impact, but in order to do so we must avoid cartoon-ification of the issues. Sentences like "The natural world he cared for was in trouble. Humankind was in danger too." are not revealing of a specific individual man's character. Nor is "it was connected to the loss of wild places." an acceptable explanation of why these disasters were happening. Equally facile and meaningless is Attenborough's purported brain wave "We must rewild the world. If we act now we can yet put it right." Sad, sorry, inadequate, unspecific, fear-mongering demagogery....more
What would it feel like to be a jumping spider? Each question provides and entry point for a reader to identify with and learn about a backyard spiderWhat would it feel like to be a jumping spider? Each question provides and entry point for a reader to identify with and learn about a backyard spider named Jumper. Backmatter includes an informative section that explains how Jumper does it, more about jumping spiders, a glossary, author's note, guide to finding and identifying spiders and resources....more
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