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48 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| May, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-504-6$14.95
|
EbookISBN 978-1-63322-504-3
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Mercè López.
The book's editor, Shakespearean scholar Tassi, culls thirty-one of the Bard's most famous sonnets, soliloquies, and other verses that underscore the universality of themes such as love, jealousy, power, revenge, and death. Each selection includes unfamiliar vocabulary defined on the page and a concise appended summary. López's evocative, loose-lined illustrations are somewhat dreamy but help bring meaning to the text. An engaging and accessible entrée to Shakespeare. Ind.
80 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-154-3$14.95
(3)
4-6
From puffballs to truffles, the many varieties of fungi are celebrated in conversational and enthusiastic text ("Wow!") and bright, illuminating photos, organized in sections matching the book's subtitle. The many colors, shapes, and functions of the ubiquitous and prolific kingdom of fungi are laid out in two-page spreads, each of which expands on a mycological theme. Student-friendly experiments are interspersed. Glos., ind.
80 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| September, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-158-1$14.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Emily Bornoff.
You can't always trust your brain! That's the message of this psychology and neuroscience book, demonstrated through sensory illusions, magic tricks, and scams. Kids may have seen some of these before, but with lots of hands-on (or brains-on) activities and lively cartoon illustrations, they'll find plenty here to entertain themselves as they acquire some good tips for thinking critically. Glos., ind.
48 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| December, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-220-5$14.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Michael Paraskevas.
These handsomely designed and illustrated books introduce the work and lives of these masterful poets; each book's editor explains the poet's intentions and much of the difficult vocabulary and ideas found in the verses. Frost's poetry is probably most accessible, though none of them were writing for youngsters, and many of the poems and excerpts may remain challenging. No harm in trying, though! Ind. Review covers these Poetry for Kids titles: Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman.
96 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-155-0$14.95
(4)
4-6
This rapid-fire overview of language offers numerous tidbits about spoken, written, and recorded language; nonverbal language; and animal communication. Most facts are readily available elsewhere, and while the text repeatedly encourages readers to "find out more," no bibliography or suggested reading list is appended. Colorful section heads and goofy, at-times-illuminating illustrations enliven spreads and encourage browsing. "Word Play" activities are appended. Glos., ind.
80 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-153-6$14.95
(4)
4-6
Illustrated by
Haude Levesque.
This book explains how different birds use their brains to make sounds, use tools, and solve problems. Two sections follow a basic introduction to bird biology: one on sounds and the other on adaptations involving instinct and memory. Sections sorted by topic rather than by species make this more of a browsable compendium. Garish digital illustrations feature different bird species throughout. Websites. Glos., ind.
96 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-159-8$14.95
(4)
4-6
Illustrated by
Jeff Albrecht.
This breezy poetic celebration honors history's heroic animals. From rat-killing cats in ancient Egypt to dolphins protecting a surfer from a shark, each rhyming poem is supplemented by additional bulleted historical facts and energetic cartoon illustrations. Including the mythical wolf mother of Rome's founders disrupts the otherwise factual compilation. While the book lacks depth, the accessible format provides easy reference and encourages casual browsing. Ind.
40 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| February, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-161-1$12.95
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Alejandro O'Kif.
Rhatigan blandly continues the stories of these classic nursery rhymes with matching rhythmic texts. Hey furthers the poem's absurdity as other animals and utensils frolic in O'Kif's bright, if at times overly stark, pictures; Itsy explores more of the bug world and their various antics, cartoonishly depicted in Farias's rounded illustrations. Though ultimately slight, the books should have some appeal with the nursery-rhyme crowd. Review covers these titles: Hey Diddle Diddle and The Itsy Bitsy Spider.
40 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| February, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-160-4$12.95
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Carolina Farias.
Rhatigan blandly continues the stories of these classic nursery rhymes with matching rhythmic texts. Hey furthers the poem's absurdity as other animals and utensils frolic in O'Kif's bright, if at times overly stark, pictures; Itsy explores more of the bug world and their various antics, cartoonishly depicted in Farias's rounded illustrations. Though ultimately slight, the books should have some appeal with the nursery-rhyme crowd. Review covers these titles: Hey Diddle Diddle and The Itsy Bitsy Spider.
48 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-151-2$14.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Robert Crawford.
These handsomely designed and illustrated books introduce the work and lives of these masterful poets; each book's editor explains the poet's intentions and much of the difficult vocabulary and ideas found in the verses. Frost's poetry is probably most accessible, though none of them were writing for youngsters, and many of the poems and excerpts may remain challenging. No harm in trying, though! Ind. Review covers these Poetry for Kids titles: Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman.
48 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| July, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-150-5$14.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Kate Evans.
These handsomely designed and illustrated books introduce the work and lives of these masterful poets; each book's editor explains the poet's intentions and much of the difficult vocabulary and ideas found in the verses. Frost's poetry is probably most accessible, though none of them were writing for youngsters, and many of the poems and excerpts may remain challenging. No harm in trying, though! Ind. Review covers these Poetry for Kids titles: Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman.
80 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| December, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-115-4$14.95
(4)
4-6
The ewww factor may attract (or repel) readers to this analysis of spit and mucus. But beyond just yucky stuff, readers will learn some animal chemistry: mucins are produced by "goblet cells" (collocytes) and function as digestive aids, moisturizers, and lubricants; saliva aids animal digestion, protects teeth, and more. Brief, colloquial paragraphs are interspersed with many (overly small) photos on each spread. Glos., ind.
32 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| September, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-120-8$14.95
(4)
PS
Fuge offers one fact about each of the baby animals in this book: "Daddy sea horse has the babies, without any fuss. / A baby humpback whale is as heavy as a bus." The rhymes have an uneven gait, but no toddlers will avert their eyes from the parade of adorableness, culminating in a grand finale–type illustration of baby alligators rollicking with the human kind.
80 pp.
| Quarto/MoonDance
| December, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-114-7$14.95
(4)
4-6
A key to conservation is building appreciation for the fascinating variety of creatures; this volume's vivid digital illustrations and lively text help bring fish adaptations (a.k.a. "tricks") to life. Levesque covers how fish hide/defend themselves, hunt, breathe, and partner with other creatures in this browsable compendium. Occasional typos and unclear terms mar the presentation. A list of species' scientific names is appended. Websites. Glos., ind.