Review of SNAKES

Gibbons, Gail. 2007. SNAKES. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-2122-8

Historically, snakes have been seen as gods and symbols of health. But today, the mention of snakes makes many people’s skin crawl—even though most of the 3,000 kinds of snakes are harmless to humans. Gibbons hits yet another homerun with this accurate, well-organized, and informative book on snakes. Though somewhat cartoonish, Gibbons illustrations are accurate and labeled with the name and geographic region of each snake. A color-coded world map highlights the areas which snakes inhabit. The short text blocks include easy-to-read sentences which are supported by the corresponding pictures. This style facilitates reader comprehension. Gibbons’ use of complete sentences in her captions also models proper writing form. Specific information in this book is easily found by using the bold, consistently located headings. In order to share tidbits about snakes which did not fit into a heading, a fact page is included. There is neither an additional resources section nor a bibliography in SNAKES. This leads the reader to independent research, though a few hints would have been nice.

This informational resource on snakes is recommended for readers ages 5-10.

Review of NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION’S YOUR BIG BACKYARD

National Wildlife Federation. May 2008. YOUR BIG BACKYARD, 12(5). ISSN 0886-5299

From photographs and articles to games and recipes, this magazine for young animal enthusiasts has something for everyone! Published by the National Wildlife Federation, YOUR BIG BACKYARD contains accurate information on all types of animals. Each issue has a theme on which all pieces focus—May’s theme is Meet the Kids. It includes information on the appearance, habitat, and other characteristics of baby animals. Interspersed among the informational text are rebus stories, mazes, a pull-out poster and the Find Bonnie game. Many of the features, such as kid-friendly recipes, recur throughout the year. This provides a comforting sense of predictability for young children. Interaction between the reader and her caregiver is encouraged by including such things as shared reading stories, the use of questioning, as well as crafts. Every item in the magazine is outlined in a clear, attractive table of contents using both words and pictures to help readers find articles. The articles themselves are marked with page numbers and an easily recognizable title. In addition, pictures support new readers by having well-matched captions. The voice is right on target for this magazine’s intended audience. Though anthropomorphism is found throughout the issue, it is reflective of how many young children perceive and interact with animals. Short articles and stories, succinct sentences, and opportunities for interaction make YOUR BIG BACKYARD a hit month after month.

This magazine is highly recommended for animal enthusiasts ages 3-6.

Review of A PICTURE BOOK OF DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER

Adler, David A. 2002. A PICTURE BOOK OF DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 09-8234-1702-6

Ever heard, “I like Ike” and “I still like Ike?” From this picture book biography, the reader can assume that David Adler still likes Ike too. This biography of Dwight Eisenhower is one in a series of over 30 picture book biographies Adler has written. Though easy to read, entertaining and packed with original photographs, alas this book falls into the trap of glorifying its subject. Though a praiseworthy man, the litany of compliments, including “brilliant leadership,” “friendly and popular in school,” “natural leader,” and “superior student,” seem a bit like overkill—as compared to the modest admission that “sometimes he lost his temper.” This glorification notwithstanding, A PICTURE BOOK OF DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER is most likely an accurate depiction of his life. In the verso, the executive director of The Eisenhower Foundation praises the book as a “factual pictoral biography.” Reference aids include a time line of important dates and an interesting and informative author’s note. Though many pieces of Eisenhower’s life are introduced, much is left unsaid. Few details of his war experience and his presidency are discussed. An interested reader could use the selected bibliography and recommended websites sections to fill in the gaps. With bestselling books to his credit, Adler is clearly a talented writer. However, I can’t help but wonder, what would Adlai Stevenson have to add to this biography?

This picture book biography is recommended for readers ages 6-10.

Review of THE BROOK BOOK: EXPLORING THE SMALLEST STREAMS

Arnosky, Jim. 2008. THE BROOK BOOK: EXPLORING THE SMALLEST STREAMS. Westport, CT: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 9-780525-477167

Mayflies begin their lives here while some fish and wildflowers spend their whole lives here. The chickadee and muskrat depend on it for survival. Brooks can be interesting places and Jim Arnosky sets out to ensure readers of his book know why. With sections on insects, amphibians, plants, fish and more; the reader learns about what can be found in and around brooks and how best to appreciate those things. With particular focus on study and preservation, Arnosky includes strategies for having the least negative impact on this fragile ecosystem. His tone is informative and instructional without being patronizing. Detailed information such as the materials used by the Caddis flies to build their cases sets THE BROOK BOOK apart from other more general books on water ecosystems. The realistic illustrations are labeled and often accompanied by a life-sized silhouette, giving readers a sense of dimension and perspective. An author’s note geared toward teachers encourages the use of brooks as an outdoor learning environment. Also included is a bibliography of resources for additional study on brooks. This piece of informational literature has neither a table of contents nor an index, though its organization lends itself to the use of both. Unfortunately, if the reader is in search of a specific piece of information about brooks, he or she must either browse or read the entire book.

This informational resource on brooks is appropriate for readers ages 5-9.