NONFICTION BOOK REVIEWS
- Lizardo Moreno
- Oct 20, 2018
- 8 min read
THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST
Montgomery, Sy. (2004). THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN 9780618147991
PLOT & SUMMARY
In this book, Sy travels to South America to collect different species of tarantulas. Sy and his research team study the arachnids daily, living and mating behaviors. His time wants to find out the population of certain tarantulas. Throughout the book ask the question as to how many tarantulas live in the French Guiana and the world. He describes the Arachnid family and mentions other interesting spiders. He provides photographs of his expedition and maps that help the reader learn where he found the tarantulas.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The format of the book starts as many do, explaining what Arachnids are and what family they belong to. The author then narrates his expedition. He jumps in and out of a third and first person. He somewhat jokes around, making it a light read rather and a chore to read. He also goes back and forth from the expedition to his lab in Ohio, which at times had me read over again to know where he was. The photographs are clear, the captions are succinct and explain the photos well. The labels on the diagram help the reader understand the spider’s body parts.
While this book spoke a lot about data collection, what was presented was the beginning of case studies. There were no graphs or tables that actually showed whom many tarantulas lived in French Guiana. Absent were the graphs that compared the number of spiders he mentions in Florida, New York/New England and Ohio. Even though I read the electronic version, what would have made this ebook better, would have been interactivity. For example, a reader clicking on a caption would bring up an interesting fact, some kind of video or 3D diagram. There is a lot of great information, but the format that was chosen to present the facts was not effective as a research text. This is more of a leisure read. I would promote this book to my reluctant readers, as it has the feel of a story, but they are learning so much about the spider family in the process.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
It is told through the eyes of the book's narrator, Sam Marshall, and it was carefully researched on all levels. It is no wonder that it won the "Robert F. Sibert Honor Book" award. –Digital Journal
. . . explores how and why researchers study the biggest and hairiest spiders on Earth, taking readers from the rainforests of French Guiana to a tarantula-filled laboratory. –NPR Books
A Sibert Honor Book An ALA Notable Book A John Burroughs Nature Book for Young Readers A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A 2005 Outstanding Science Trade Book for K-12 A Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice List * "Superb color photos abound in this spectacular series addition. . . . This is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work. . . . A treat, even for arachnophobes."--School Library Journal, starred review
Montgomery has a gift for scene-setting, describing Marshall’s activities in just enough detail. She deftly weaves clear explanations and comparisons into the main text (“ . . . their ‘skin’ is called an exoskeleton, because exo—like exit—means ‘outside’ ”). Bishop’s phenomenal photos show spiders mating, shedding their skin, even leaping through the air. It’s enough to make Miss Muffet fall in love. –Kirkus Review
HONORS
A Sibert Honor Book
An ALA Notable Book
A John Burroughs Nature Book for Young Readers
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A 2005 Outstanding Science Trade Book for K–12
A Kirkus Reviews Editor’s Choice List
CONNECTIONS
For those arachnophiles out there, other books to consider are:
Marshall, Sam (2001). TARANTULAS AND OTHER ARACHNIDS. ISBN 0027011014635
Marshall, Sam and Edwards, G.B. (2001). FLORIDA’S FABULOUS SPIDERS. ISBN 9780911977219
Levi, Herbert W. (1990). SPIDERS AND THEIR KIN. ISBN 9781582381565
DRAWING FROM MEMORY
Say, Allen (2011). DRAWING FROM MEMORY. New York: Scholastic Press. eISBN 9781338088267
PLOT AND SUMMARY
In this autobiography of Allen Say, a cartoonist, Allen fishes into his memories and retells how he became a cartoonist. He recounts how he knew he loved drawing at age 6, how his dad was not accepting of his drawings and how his parents separated and at age 12. Allen was sent to live with his grandmother, who in turn got him to live in an apartment on his own while he attended middle school. Allen then saw an article about an apprentice cartoonist and he sought out the master cartoonist. Allen was tutored by the Cartoonist and even got to help draw some of the strips while attending middle school. In school, he learned to sketch and paint with oils. He was well on his way to becoming a cartoonist when his father asked him to move to America with him. That is where the story ends. Perhaps in a sequel, he will draw from his memory how America affected him and tell if he was able to continue cartooning.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book is organized in a clear timeline from childhood to teenagehood. The book employs a variety of sketches, watercolor drawings, and photographs which makes the book interesting. The cartoons from the cartoon strip are very basic compared to the illustrations that Allen created to fill out this book. Allen kept the reader hooked wanting to find out what kind of trouble he got himself into as a child and inspires the reader to work toward achieving their own goal as he did, without letting anyone stop him from achieving his artistic dream. His theme “Let your dear child journey” resonates throughout his writing as he journeyed to his heart’s content on a path that helped him to learn more about drawing and painting and allowed him to become more proficient in the art.
REVIEW EXCERPT
Part memoir, part graphic novel, part narrative history, Drawing from Memory presents a complex look at the real-life relationship between a mentor and his student. With watercolor paintings, original cartoons, vintage photographs, and maps, Allen Say has created a book that will inspire the artist in all of us. –Scholastic
CONNECTIONS
Other books where people achieved their dreams include:
Shetterly, Margot. (2018). HIDDEN FIGURES: THE TRUE STORY OF FOUR BLACK WOMEN AND THE SPACE RACE. New York: Harper. ISBN 985072992.
Sotomayor, Sonia. (2018). TURNING PAGES: MY LIFE STORY. New York, NY: Philomel books. ISBN 9780525514084.
Winters, Kay. (2003). ABE LINCOLN: THE BOY WHO LOVED BOOKS. New York: Simon & Schuster Books. ISBN 0689825544.
EYE TO EYE: HOW ANIMALS SEE THE WORLD
Jenkins, Steve (2014). EYE TO EYE: HOW ANIMALS SEE THE WORLD. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780547959078.
SUMMARY AND PLOT
The back cover of the book lures a reader in trying to get them to find out more about the different eyes of animals such as the Halibut, Nautilus, Ecko, Buzzard, etc. The book opens up with an explanation of the 4 types of eyes (eyespot, pinhole eyes, compound eyes, and camera eye), before going into detail about the eyes in the different animals.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book is composed of very colorful, vibrant 2D graphics. The author creates a pattern in each presentation of 2 animals per page. It has small full-body images of the featured animal, contrasted by a zoomed-in view of the animal’s eyes. The titles are colored and the name of the animal is bolded. The expanded view of the mask, allows the reader to appreciate the variety and quality of the eyes, that would otherwise go unnoticed. At the end of the book, there is a table that explains the evolution of the eye. It closes with a quick animal fact of each of the featured specimens. The book boast of a bibliography and glossary. Overall it is well organized and succinct. The only thing that would make this book better is if there were geographical maps showing the location of the animal’s natural habitats. The book has received the Caldecott Honor.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
As usual, Jenkins carefully crafts his animals from torn and cut paper, creating an array of textures and a striking sense of detail, whether an animal is furry, feathery, or scaly. –Publishers Weekly
Another impressive presentation from a master craftsman. –Kirkus Review
CONNECTIONS
Other books by Steve Jenkins include:
Jenkins, Steve (2016). ANIMALS BY THE NUMBERS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780544630925
Jenkins, Steve. (2017). TRICKIEST: 19 SNEAKY ANIMALS (EXTREME ANIMALS). Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 980544937161.
Jenkins, Steve. (2018). SPEEDIEST (19 VERY FAST ANIMALS (EXTREME ANIMALS). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780544937109
Jenkins, Steve. (2014). CREATURE FEATURES: TWENTY-FIVE ANIMALS EXPLAIN WHY THEY LOOK THE WAY THEY DO. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780544233515.
FUNNY BONES: POSADA AND HIS DAY OF THE DEAD CALAVERAS
Tonatiuh, Duncan (2015). FUNNY BONES: POSADA AND HIS DAY OF THE DEAD CALAVERAS. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781419716478,
SUMMARY AND PLOT
Duncan describes of the now famous artist, Jose Guadalupe Posada (from Aguascalientes, Mexico), creator of the happy skeletons that live, dance, play and sing every year on the Day of the Dead. Posada was a from a numerous family and as a child he loved drawing. His brother Cirilo helped him enroll in the local art academy. When Posada turned 18 he worked a local print shop and learned the art of lithography and engraving. Later in life after moving to Mexico City, he the art of etching. Posada would create different political cartoons for the local paper. He would also print broadsides that had a huge drawing accompanied by text on the side. Every Day of the Dead for 24 years he published calavera images. His most famous image was la Catrina. Duncan closes the biography craftily by placing Posada’s image on an altar, reminding us that Posada was poor, it wasn’t until years later that his drawing became famous.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Duncan explains that the calaveras are, but he should have added the colloquial Mexican term “calacas.” The book starts off as a biography, but then ventures off into explaining the different types of printing, while relevant, it was somewhat distracting at first read. Duncan provides some of the Posadas prints, but I am unsure if the text accompanying it are a translation of Posada’s text, or if it is Duncan’s own text trying to get the reader to think about the image. The design of the images in 2D pre-Hispanic form, work with Posadas biography as it gives it that sense of being in Mexico. I like how Duncan places his own drawing of similar images side by side to Posada’s. It allows the reader to appreciate the difference of ideologies, and art 100 years apart. With both artist at the top of their art genre in their time. It makes the book interesting and reveals Duncan’s passion and Pre-Columbian art revival style. The author leaves all the nitty-gritty details in the author’s note section. He also includes a glossary, bibliography, index, art credit, and dedication. The book rightly received the Pura Bulpré Award for the retelling of a Latino artist life that has dramatically shaped Mexico’s art scene.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
a captivating new book by the Mexican-born author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh…breaks them down admirably for early middle-grade readers…Befitting its subject, the book communicates through its visual aesthetic. Tonatiuh integrates images of Posada's old-school calaveras with his own illustrations –New York Times
This exceptional picture-book biography profiles Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada (1852–1913), who is remembered primarily for his portrayal of calaveras, the droll skeletons prominent in Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. The final scene, a witty, updated version of grinning calaveras, depicts them as young people today. Playful but informative, this picture book offers a fascinating introduction to the artist and his work. –Booklist Online
Following on his Sibert Honor-winning SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUALl (2014), Tonatiuh further marks himself as a major nonfiction talent with this artistically beautiful and factually accessible offering that effectively blends artistic and political content for young readers. –Kirkus Review
CONNECTIONS
Other books that help to understand Mexican culture and folklore include:
Tonatiuh, Duncan. (2016). THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR. ISBN 9781613129708.
Tonatiuh, Duncan (2017). DANZA!: AMALIA HERNÁNDEZ AND EL BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781419725326.
Tonatiuh, Duncan. (2011). DIEGO RIVERA: HIS WORLD AND OURS. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780810997318.