One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Matthew Trueman

One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Matthew Trueman

Reviewed by Laura Koenig (Bib-Laura-graphy)


Kathryn Lasky and Matthew Trueman's
One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin takes the reader along on Darwin's journey. The book begins in his youth, and as the text details his academic struggles in childhood and his contentious relationship with his father, children can see the young Darwin's curiosity and love of nature shining through on every page. Darwin's future as a naturalist is visible from the first illustration, where a young Charles trips across a room kicking up dirt and plants and drawings of beetles, surrounded by specimens and snails whose alien-like eyes peek out at him. And when kids read the accompanying text and learn the reason that his cheek is so bulged out - he's got a beetle inside his mouth for safekeeping - curious kids will be hooked.

The bulk of the book takes place during Darwin's voyage on the Beagle and his travels in South America. The narrative voice of the story lets young readers make discoveries and ask questions along with Darwin, with an explanation of each separate step that eventually leads to his theory of evolution. This technique keeps a tough concept clear and engaging for young audiences. The tension between Darwin's new theory and the established creationist theory is also cleverly framed to make it accessible for children. Lasky uses Fitzroy, the Captain of the Beagle, as a foil for Darwin. Their arguments serve both to move Darwin's discoveries forward, and also to give a concrete example of how his work would be received by the general population.

The text is full of small details that will grab the attention of young readers. In my personal favorite episode, Darwin discovers that the delicious meal he has been eating is in fact a rare example of a nearly extinct ostrich. He runs back to the kitchen to save the bones from the cook, and is able to put together a specimen that is instrumental to his work. And this is not the last time that Darwin accidentally eats an important specimen!

While Lasky's text is excellent, it is Matthew Trueman's art that makes this book a standout. The illustrations are densely layered and full of texture, with a level of detail that is extraordinary. The textures and layers use a large number of mediums, and as a read, I found myself wondering how exactly he had created his complicated scenes. In case anyone else is curious about the process, according to the artist, "the illustrations in this book started out as drawings created with acrylic inks, watercolor, and graphite pencil. I moved up the food chain to add gouache and colored pencil. After sealing the pictures with acrylic medium, I did my thicker acrylic painting, then fooled around a little more with graphite and colored pencil. Finally, I added the collage elements, including paper, string, and weeds and wildflowers from my yard and nearby ditches and fields." Trueman uses his mixed mediums to great effect, and the addition of pressed flowers and plants to his already delightful paintings is especially effective. The very real leaves and branches draw attention to the world of nature that was a focus of Darwin's work, especially in scenes that show his notebooks and workspaces. They also serve to make the cartoonish people and animals pop off the page. Trueman's people are constantly in motion, especially Darwin himself, and their action draws the eye immediately. Darwin ages over the course of the book, and I was delighted by the changes to his hair on almost every page.

This book is a treat for curious young scientists, or for anyone who wonders about the world around them.



More info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (January 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076361436X
• ISBN-13: 978-0763614362
• Source: F&G from publisher
  

Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares

Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares
Age Range: 8-12
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (May 13, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763625302
ISBN-13: 978-0763625306
Source of book: Proof from publisher



Lady Liberty: A Biography written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Matt Tavares is an absolutely stunning account of the building of the statue, from concept to creation. The story is told in lyrical vignettes from the point of view of many involved in the statue's creation, including:

• Edouard de Labolulaye who came up with the concept
• Sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, structural engineer Gustave Eiffel
• Poet Emma Lazarus whose words, "give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." have given hope to so many
• And more

The book begins with a vignette by Doreen Rappaport, telling her grandfather's story as he fled Lativa and arrived in the United States. She imagines what it was like as his ship approached New York:

"Then early one morning, shouts of
'The Lady! The Lady!' awakened him.
He raced up to the deck.
The ship was pulling into New York,
and there was Lady Liberty greeting them all.

Arms reached out as if to caress her.
People lifted babies so they could see her.
Tears ran down by grandfather's face.
People around him were crying, too.
And then a wave of cheering and hugging
swept over the ship. "

The book then moves back to 1865 in a French parlor. Edouard de Laboulaye shares his dream of giving a monument to America in celebration of her 100 years of independence. Auguste Bartholdi is in the room, and the next vignette belongs to him. We see his studio, working on a clay sculpture of a lady draped in robes holding a torch. Bartholdi reveals the location he has chosen for the statue and compares it to the wonder of the Great Pyramid of Egypt, Zeus at Olympia, and more. The book continues through the 20 years it took to build the statue and ends with Doreen Rappaport sharing quotes from those who arrived in New York and saw the magnificent Lady Liberty for the first time.



A final section in the back of the book lists the statue's astounding dimensions, a time line of important events, notes from both the author and illustrator, and sources where readers can get more information about Lady Liberty.

This powerful story is enhanced by absolutely stunning lifelike illustrations. I kept forgetting that I was looking at illustrations and not actual photographs. Rendered in watercolor, ink, and pencil, Tavares' highly detailed illustrations feature deep, rich tones that take you back to the past. A fold out spread near the end of the books shows the stunning lady in all her glory as she is revealed to the world.

I cannot recommend this book enough to social studies teachers, to parents, to children who want a new perspective on the story of one of the most powerful ladies in the world.

A Teacher's Guide is available for download from Candlewick's website.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

The Reading Zone: "A stunning book, I can’t wait to share this with my classes!" (Read more...)

Becky's Book Reviews: "Lady Liberty is both beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. Though I must admit it was the illustrations that first caught my eye. I love Tavares' style. The colors. The tones. There's just something so rich, so expressive. It works for me really really well." (Read more...)

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: "An impressive biography, showing how the visions and hopes and sweat of many—including many immigrants to the States—gave birth to one of the world’s most iconic statues." (read more...)




Get more great nonfiction recommendations at Picture Book of the Day!

The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes

The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (August 26, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763630004
ISBN-13: 978-0763630003
Source of Book: ARC from publisher


The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes is a collection of interrelated short stories that spans four centuries. The book is based on Edith Wharton's ghost story, "Kerfol," a story about a young Frenchwoman, Anne de Barrigan, who was convicted of murdering her husband. She claimed he was killed by a pack of dogs, except there were no dogs at Kerfol, the name of the mansion where they lived--at least no LIVE dogs. Pretty creepy, huh?

The first story in The Ghosts of Kerfol, "Hunger Moon" is set in 1613 and is a retelling of Wharton's "Kerfol" from the point of view of Perrette, Anne de Barrigan's servant. The second story, "These Heads Would Speak,"set in 1802 is told from the point of view of a young artist visiting the haunted Kerfol. The third story, "The Figure Under the Sheet," is set in 1926 and is told from the point of view of a young aristocrat woman whose family owns the Kerfol estate. The fourth, "When I Love You Best,"set in 1982 tells the story of Meg, a girl who is traveling through Europe with her boyfriend and his twin brother. Kerfol is a stop on their tour, and they have a terrifying experience. The final story, "Red Berries," is set in 2006 and is told from the point of view of a deaf gardener whose father is restoring Kerfol. The characters in stories 2-5 all have ghostly experiences that tie them to the first story.

I was excited to read this book first because I'm a sucker for ghost stories, second because I'm an Edith Wharton fan and was familiar with "Kerfol," and finally because I was intrigued to see how Deborah Noyes would tie everything together. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. After reading the first story, I was really into the book. The story was chilling, the characters were well-developed, and it added a new perspective to the story I'd known for quite a while. However, the second story lacked the details of the first that really drew me in, and I ended it with a lot of questions. While some of these answers were revealed in the fourth story, it just wasn't enough. I didn't feel the chills and spookiness that I felt with the first. I began disliking the characters as I continued to read, and the stories kept getting shorter. In the end, I thought it was a grand idea that just wasn't executed well.

It's extremely difficult to write a short story. In fact, I think it may be more difficult to write a good short story than a good novel because you have a very limited time to draw readers in, get them to know the characters enough to care about what happens to them, and ultimately tell a memorable story that leaves readers satisfied. I'm thinking of Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Kate Chopin. Who can forget the anxiety of the murderer in Poe's "Tell Tale Heart" that ultimately leads him to a confession?

Aside from the first story in the book, Noyes short stories are mediocre, not very scary, and a bit boring. I applaud her attempt to try something different, to weave stories together through the ages, but it just didn't work for me.

No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli

No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli

Reading level: Ages 2-4
Board book: 24 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Brdbk edition (February 26, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763632449
ISBN-13: 978-0763632441
Source of book: Purchased own copy at bookstore

At nearly 14 months old, my little chica is beginning to understand the meaning of "yes" and "no." While she can't say the words yet, she nods or shakes her head, and when she's getting ready to do something she knows she's not supposed to (like eat dog food...ewww), she'll sneakily look around to see if anyone's looking.

Needless to say, we're having a lot of fun with Leslie Patricelli's No No Yes Yes . In the book, a baby dressed only in a diaper with one springy curl coming out of the top of its head does a variety of both good and bad things. On the left side of each interior spread, the baby is doing something he/she shouldn't be doing, such as eating dog food, pulling the cat's tail, and dumping bath water on the floor. "NO NO" is written across the top of these pages. On the right side of the page, the baby is doing something he/she SHOULD be doing, such as eating a banana instead of dog food, gently petting the cat, and keeping the bathwater and toys in the bathtub. "YES YES" is written across the top of these pages.

The humorous pictures will make children laugh, and with "no no" and "yes yes" as the only words in the book, children and parents can make up their own stories. A fun way to teach the "Yes/No" concept, this book would make a nice gift for young children.