Gabrielle BalkanCritiques

Young dinosaur fans get to revisit some of their favorites, while also discovering (maybe) a few new dinos to love.

This books adds a fun twist to the realm of dinosaur books by challenging young readers to get involved. After a quick introduction to fossils, it dives into the prehistoric creatures. A skeleton is presented with a couple highlights to the specific dino's special abilities. Then, there's a couple of clues presented about the dinosaur on the other side of the two-page spread. The reader is asked to guess the name of the dino. The answer is then revealed by opening up a large flat. This not only presents the answer but gives a few more details about the creature.

I was surprised how well this fits to the 3 to 5 age group—not overly easy but not pushing too far into the details, either. This isn't a list of detailed facts, but rather steers to the attributes of each dinosaur in a playful manner. The text flows with lightness, while working interesting tidbits in seamlessly. It isn't an overwhelming amount and fits well to the average attention span of the intended audience. I was surprised at the variety of dinosaurs presented, since it includes a few outside of the 'norm'. So, it offers something to those readers, who might know their dinosaurs fairly well, too.

The atmosphere sticks to that of a game, prompting readers to think about each clue. The accompanying skeleton is a great hint without completely giving the answer and offers visual insights with additional knowledge. The flaps add that extra hint of fun and help maintain the game feel. I did appreciate that these open up and still allow the skeleton on the opposite side to remain in full view. It's a book to put a smile on dino-fans faces.
I received a complimentary copy and found this to be a fun way to explore the realm of dinosaurs.

Would be good for a storytime.

‘’My painting is what I give back to the world for what the world gives to me.’’
Georgia O’Keefe, 1940

Wisconsin, November 15, 1887. A girl named Georgia is born, the second child of Ida and Francis. With roots in Ireland and Hungary, Georgia lived on a farm, the bright light of the sun and the wheat fields were her first memories, the windmills, the way sunbeams played with the land. Drawn to the nature around her and to stories, she would create stories with the help of a dollhouse she had made. She wanted to see the world in her own eyes, but the ‘’traditional’’ views on Art would soon become a hurdle. Georgia wasn’t the one to lose her determination. She decided to make her drawings larger and lighter.

From that moment on, Georgia would create the world around her in her own unique manner, interpreting her vision rather than copying what everyone could see. Charcoal, abstract shapes, strong lines. She used her own developed technique to present the landscape, to communicate feelings and the storm had begun. New York City became her new inspiration, the unique images would turn into a vision and a dream in Georgia’s hands who would go on creating the city’s landscapes as seen by day and at night, walking the streets, absorbing the colours of the flower shops, the secret spots, the magic.

She would create canvases of wonders inspired by the fickleness and joy and vivacity of the weather, the rhythm of music, the haunting objects found in New Mexico. Animal bones, skulls, horns, spines. Nothing was impossible to depict. And through these images, a plethora of feelings would come to the surface.

Movingly written by Gabrielle Balkan and atmospherically illustrated by Josy Bloggs, this is a beautiful and profound introduction to the unique world of Georgia O’Keefe, the artist who changed the art world.

‘’Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time- like to have a friend takes time.’’
Georgia O’Keefe, 1939

Many thanks to DK Children and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/

An oversized, engaging book that details 50 cities in the U.S.A. with key facts, inspiring people, neighborhood spotlights, city icons, and much more! Includes Publisher’s Note, Index, Key References.

There’s never been an atlas like this! Each state has a page of colorful illustrations, notable residents (both past and present), and a timeline of important moments. New discoveries with each reading.

Ihe stylized blueprint format is very cool. The book is informative and a fun guessing game, this book will appeal to inquisitive and imaginative minds, old and young alike.
Grades 2-5

I read this twice before I figured out the secret of the textures on the animals! In other words, this book has surprises.

The oversize book offers the skeletons of 10 animals. The first spread lists facts about the animal and its skeleton, then a picture of the skeleton. This spread is in black and white with a light dusting of color. Readers can guess the animal before turning the page to a colorful spread showing the animal, its skeleton raised in light texture against its body. This picture is accompanied by a brief narrative. With a bright light the skeleton will show up through the page - it matches the skeleton on the reverse side. It's not glow-in-the-dark though, even though it feels like it!

The animals profiled include a blue whale (biggest bone), Etruscan shrew (smallest bone), reticulated python (most bones), giraffe, elephant, peregrine falcon (lightest bones), bumblebee bat (thinnest bones), Alaska moose (fastest-growing bone), regal horned lizard (spikiest bone), great hammerhead shark (fewest bones), and the special bones of a human.

An afterword from the author explains how they chose the different animals, the relative sizes and weights of bone, and how science changes as scientists discover new things. There is also a list of further reading "at the library" and online and a glossary.

Verdict: A fascinating and beautifully created look at skeletons - perfect for a non-scary storytime at Halloween or for poring over any time of the year. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780714875125; Published September 2017 by Phaidon; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

This book dedicates a page to a specific city in each state in the U.S.A. Each page provides a map, popular places, famous people, etc.
2 books

This delightful gazetteer takes us on a tour of fifty cities of the U.S. Since I love both infographics and state trivia, it’s as if this book were made just for me, for it combines both of those features into one big book. The author and illustrator explain in the introduction that they “want to paint a picture of each city’s story.” They then show you how the book is organized: for each city, you get a “welcome box” with a quick introduction to the city, a map full of interesting trivia as well as key facts about the city, inspiring people, city icons, a neighborhood spotlight, and what a perfect day would be like in each city. There is one city profiled from each state in the Union.

Of course, like Gabrielle Balkan’s previous book highlighting the fifty states, you can always find people from the area objecting to what you did not choose to include. For example, Chicago is referred to by its nickname, “The Windy City” but most people assume this relates to the weather. People from outside the area always ask us about “all the wind.” I wish she would have mentioned that the term "Windy City" came into common usage when it was popularized by New York City editor, Charles Dana, during the bidding for the 1893 Columbian Exposition, and actually referenced the “windbags” (braggarts) from the area, not the weather. (Or maybe it's better if people don't know that!)

In Boston, under “inspiring people” the author includes, among others, Matt Damon and Mindy Kaling! Really? None of the Adamses (John, Abigail, and John Quincey)? And what about Susan B. Anthony? No offense to the actors, but I think the others are a bit more inspiring.

In Tucson, there is a picture of a saguaro, but one of our most famous denizens (and my favorite), the javelina, is omitted. (Full Disclosure of Bias: I even have a javelina cookie cutter!)

The author highlights some local foods in Tucson, like the Sonoran Hot Dog and the Raspado (shaved ice soaked in fruit syrup and toppings), but what about margaritas and mojitos? I don’t think you can go anywhere in Tucson without encountering these latter two drinks - in particular that Tucson favorite, the Prickly Pear Margarita. (Perfect for downing one of the 30 different types of Tucson Tamales!) In fact, Tucson has such great things to eat and drink that in 2015 it became the first city in the U.S. to be designated a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy.

Milwaukee is one of my favorite cities too. The author mentions the Milwaukee Art Museum, but how can you not refer to the amazing building in which it is housed?

The Quadracci Pavilion is a sculptural, postmodern addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum completed in 2001, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The hall’s chancel is shaped like the prow of a ship, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over Lake Michigan. The signature wings, the Burke Brise Soleil, form a moveable sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan. The entire structure weighs 90 tons. It takes 3.5 minutes for the wings to open or close, which happens Tuesday through Sunday around noon. It is truly one of the wonders of the country.

Washington, D.C. is my most favorite city of any city. How can you beat having so many museums and monuments, all with free admission? But again we have some rather odd choices for “inspiring people.” I love Taraji P. Henson, but is she really more inspiring than Frederick Douglass?

Also, the focus is very much on national, rather than local, aspects of the city. D.C. residents are proud of what the locals have to offer, from the legendary blueberry pancakes at the Saturday Eastern Market to the Maine Avenue Fish Market - a D.C. institution - to the glorious nature on display at Rock Creek Park and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, better known as the C&O Canal.

In addition, because African Americans make up more than half of the city's population, D.C. offers a cornucopia of places to learn about, celebrate, and enjoy black history and culture, as well as contemporary black life. To name just one of these wonderful resources you can find in D.C., there is the Lincoln Theater (not to be confused with Ford's Theater, where Lincoln was assassinated, and where you can also visit). As the Lincoln Theater website explains:

"The Lincoln Theatre, built in 1922, was a cultural center of D.C., predating and influencing Harlem’s renaissance. Washington natives Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey were joined by nationally acclaimed artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Nat King Cole, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Sarah Vaughn who performed regularly on the storied stage. President Franklin D. Roosevelt celebrated his birthday parties at the Lincoln Colonnade, a party hall once located at the Theatre."

The Howard Theater in the "U Street Corridor" of D.C. has a similar history. (All three of these theaters still feature regular performances.)

She also omits some of the most popular tourist attractions, including the Watergate Hotel (she mentions the Watergate Steps, but these are different: the steps are by the Lincoln Memorial and were originally intended to act as a dock for visiting dignitaries and politicians disembarking off the Potomac River); the stairs from the climax of the movie “The Exorcist” in the beautiful and historic neighborhood of Georgetown (which could have well provided a fascinating “neighborhood focus”); and the Dupont Circle area, where you can see locals playing chess and also visit one of the best indie bookstores specializing in history and politics, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe. The Dupont Circle fountain, built by sculptor Daniel Chester French, is an iconic landmark of the city.

Then there is the 2-mile stretch along Massachusetts Avenue known as Embassy Row, which I think is a must-see area. There are dozens of gorgeous buildings that house diplomatic missions, each proudly displaying that country's flag (usually with no other identifying marks so it's a fun teaching opportunity). Often they also feature sculptures in front of the building highlighting one of the country's heroes, ranging from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial outside the Indian embassy to the statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk outside of the Turkish embassy.

Finally, I should mention that my favorite museum in Washington, D.C. is not one of the Smithsonian museums (rightfully) highlighted by the book but is rather the off-the-beaten-track National Geographic Museum. Not many tourists know about it, but it is a treasure with outstanding rotating exhibits.

But each city only gets a two-page spread, and the author and illustrator Sol Linero do a great job in packing the two pages with as much as they can. Moreover, as anyone knows, you can put ten people from a city in a room, and come up with ten totally different lists of its most iconic features. It doesn’t really matter; I love the parts that are included, and I love learning new things about all of these cities.

Evaluation: I may have my own personal preferences for what to include, but nevertheless, I love this book; it’s very fun, and would make a great gift.

I found this book and absolutely had to have it. This can be very overwhelming for a student to pick up and immediately open to find the pages loaded down with information, but what better way to teach them about an index, glossary, and certain pieces to pay key attention to when looking on a page? This colorful array of the 50 states has so much learning to be had once opened. I cannot wait to share this prize with my students.

This is my favorite U.S Geography book. Not only does it include maps for every state, but the maps are filled with fun facts, and they give information about historical events and important historical figures.

Size is very large, each state has a outline map and multiple facts about each state. Meet author, personalized autograph.

This book shows the United States. Full of factual information and maps.

Since I love both infographics and state trivia, it’s as if this book were made just for me, for it combines both of those features into one big book. It begins:

“Welcome explorers, investigators, and lovers of knowledge….”

Yes, yes, that is I! (Well, if you add the word “armchair” before the word “explorers”….)

For each state, there is a “Welcome Box” providing an introduction to the state, a map full of interesting factoids as well as prominent geological features, and side bars about key facts, state icons, inspiring people, moments to remember, and a spotlight on one particular region in the state.

I have several favorite states, but my most favorite is actually not a state at all, but a federal district; that is, Washington, D.C. Thankfully, it is included at the back of the book, although I wish the author had shown D.C.’s license plate, which memorably declares: “Taxation Without Representation.” (The author does, however, mention that D.C. is a zone of taxation without representation.]

But what it does include is fun and interesting, such as a nod to “Ben’s Chili Bowl,” a long-time favorite area restaurant; a blurb on the “Racing Presidents” - mascots of the Washington Nationals baseball team; the length of the Woodley Park metro escalator (the longest escalator in D.C., and one I occasionally walked up, in my salad days); and even a mention of the bookstore “Busboys and Poets.” In addition, it also provides the necessary sampling of monuments, museums, and memorials, all packed in one two-page spread.

Right next door to D.C. is the state of Maryland, where I grew up. How did I not know about “Smith Island Cake”? Obviously, I didn’t have this book when I grew up.

But I would think there would also be a lengthier description of crab feasts - she only mentions that you can find delicious blue crabs in quiet fishing villages, but in fact, approximately 50 percent of the country’s blue crab harvest comes from Maryland waters, and crab feasts are a Maryland staple! I would also have loved to have seen a reference to the McCormick Spice Factory, which graced Baltimore with the smell of cinnamon for 125 years. But as anyone knows, you can put ten people from a state in a room, and come up with ten totally different lists of the most iconic features of the state. It doesn’t really matter; I love the parts that are included, and I love learning new things about all of the states, especially the others where I have lived (The Badger State, The Grand Canyon State, The Keystone State, and now The Prairie State.) You will learn all these nicknames from the book, and there are bonus infographics at the end showing all the presidents and all the state flags (of which Maryland’s is the most spectacular, I’m sure you will agree!).

The illustrations by Sol Linero are perfect for the book.

Evaluation: I love this book; it’s very fun, and would make a great gift.