HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Maybe you don’t want to think about the tiny eyelash mites that are living on, not surprisingly, your eyelashes, but you can bet there’s some 9-year-old kid out there who does.  And that kid will also enjoy learning about bedbugs, chiggers, dust mites, and a whole host of other small creatures who live on humans, in houses, and outside.  Each spread features Jenkins’ trademark cut paper illustrations, with the actual size shown as a black silhouette (some are just a dot), the magnification of the illustration, and a paragraph of information.  The last two pages give additional information about each critter, and there is also a short bibliography.  32 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  I’m always delighted to learn that Steve Jenkins has a new book; even more so when he teams up with his wife Robin Page.  Personally, I did not find the subject of this one particularly engaging, but I just know it will be a huge hit in any elementary library.

Cons:  I feel itchy.

Published by Sleeping Bear Press

Summary: Former astronaut Clayton Anderson drew on his experience living aboard the International Space Station to create these fictional letters about life in space.  From Day 1 (“Dear Mom, I did it I made it into outer space! LAUNCH WAS SO COOL!”) to Day 152 (“Dear Mission Control: I’m home–safely back on Earth. And boy, am I glad about that!”), his letters brim with enthusiasm for sharing his experiences and scientific information about space.  The science is very kid-friendly, describing why the crews’ heads look bigger when the first few days of a mission, animals who have traveled into space, and how astronauts take pictures. Living in a weightless environment, conducting experiments, and going for a space walk are all explained with an air of excitement, and a P.S. from the astronaut at the end gives a bit more information about each topic.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  Anderson’s enthusiasm is infectious, and is sure to lead some readers to consider a career in space.  The letters format is engaging, and could serve as a writing prompt.  Batori’s humorous cartoon-inspired illustrations add to the fun.

Cons:  I wished the letters had clarified who each recipient was.  Some (Mom, Brother, Mission Control) are obvious, while others (Cole, Sofia, Ana) are more ambiguous.

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Published by Beach Lane Books

Summary:  Animals struggle to survive in a world overrun by humans, but there are people who build structures to make life a little easier for them.  They’ve created overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels to help different creatures move from one place to another safely.  From overpasses across the Trans-Canada Highway to rope bridges over Australia’s Hume Highway to tiny passageways built for spotted salamanders in Massachusetts, engineers have come up with some creative solutions to help animals threatened by traffic and other human activities.  Includes two pages with additional information about each structure and a bibliography.  48 pages; ages 4-9.

Pros:  Kids will enjoy learning about both the animals and the structures, but the real appeal of this book is the large, colorful illustrations of all the critters.  I hope we’ll be seeing more from illustrator Mike Orodán.

Cons:  I hope I never stumble upon those millions of crabs crossing their special crab bridge on Christmas Island.

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  All living things grow: some quickly, some slowly, some a little, and some a lot.  Humans grow from a tiny dot to an adult, following a set of instructions coded into DNA, the genetic code.  Humans’ genetic code is similar to some animals, like chimpanzees, less similar to other animals like dogs, and even less similar to plants.  But all forms of life are connected, and all connect back to earlier forms of life “because all life has always been written in one language”.  Includes an afterword called “How did you grow?”.  40 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Nicola Davies does a masterful job of explaining DNA and genetics in a way that allows me to confidently recommend this book for kids as young as kindergarteners.  The gorgeous illustrations showing all kinds of animal and plant life make it even more accessible for readers of all ages.

Cons:  I was surprised there were no resources for further research included at the end.

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Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  An eight-year-old is about five times as tall as this book…but only half as tall as an ostrich.  The ostrich is half as tall as the tallest land animal, the giraffe, but the giraffe is 20 times shorter than the tallest living thing, a redwood tree.  The journey continues outward: skyscrapers, mountains, outer space, all the way to the very edges of the universe.  It then comes back to Earth, and that group of eight-year-olds, who are capable of looking into the sky and imagining their place in the universe.  Includes additional information on Earth, the solar system, the universe, and making maps and models, as well as notes on the text and the illustrations, and a list of selected sources.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Although this sort of journey has been shown before (Cosmic View: The Universe in 40 Jumps or Powers of Ten), Jason Chin brings his own deft touch to it.  As always, Chin’s illustrations are amazing in their details, colors, and realistic renderings (I was particularly awed by the panoramic view of Mount Everest showing a juxtaposition with the tallest skyscrapers).  The simple comparisons make this accessible to early elementary kids, but the back matter makes it hefty enough for older readers.  Sure to be a contender for another Sibert award.

Cons:  I’m feeling pretty insignificant right now.

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