Synopses & Reviews
In his latest eye-popping work ofand#160;picture bookand#160;nonfiction, the Caldecott Honorand#8211;winning author-illustrator Steve Jenkinsand#160;explains how forand#160;most animals,and#160;eyes are the most important source of information about the world in a biological sense.and#160;The simplest eyesand#8212;clusters of light-sensitive cellsand#8212;appeared more than one billion years ago, and provided a big survival advantage to the first creatures that had them. Since then, animals have evolved an amazing variety of eyes, along with often surprising ways to use them.
Review
* "The evolution of the eye and the surprising ways animals see the world are displayed in a thoughtfully designed and engagingly illustrated album."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
"The eyes themselves [are] prominently featured in well-designed layouts that serve both as study guide and display for the beautifully rendered and reproduced cut-paper artwork"
and#8212;Horn Book Magazine
* "Large, colorful pictures of more than 20 animal eyes are accompanied by a small illustration of the entire creature and a brief paragraph of intriguing information ...Animal facts, a bibliography, and a glossary round out this slim volume that will captivate readers of all ages."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"This attractive, large-format volume introduces eyes in the animal kingdom...Browsers will enjoy the illustrations, while teachers might find this a useful visual resource."
and#8212;Booklist
"The framing of eye anatomy, especially the concluding chart explaining the evolution of the eye, gives the information a broader context that gives the book impact beyond Jenkins' famously vivid cut-paper illustrations."
and#8212;Bulletin
* "The eye, with its intricate structure and symbolic resonance, is an ideal focus for Jenkins' inquisitive, informative narrative and multidimensional art."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
"Beautifully rendered" - The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
Review
Marion Vannett Ridgway Book Award Winner: Illustration 2012
Review
"[A] lovely study of the ways animals spend the winter." - Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
"Utterly charming, and informative, to boot." - Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Throughout the book, Neal's crisp, clean mixed-media illustrations cleverly provide above- and belowground views, and Messner's back material will educate children about the subnivean zone and animal adaptations" - School Library Journal
Review
"This book depicting beauty in nature is a gem... Anyone looking for a picture book that also teaches science will love this title" - Library Media Connecton, Starred Review
Review
"Messner packs much information into the serene wintry landscape, beautifully captured in Neal's stunning retro-style illustrations." - The New York Times
Review
"Kate Messier... weaves a nature lesson" - USA Today
Review
* andquot;Each poem brings a sense of humor, respect, or wonder to its subject.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
* andquot;Concluded with a glossary of big but fascinating words, this is equally suited to curricular units and cozy reads in front of a fire.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist, starred review
* andquot;A work to be savored by young artists and scientists.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus, starred reviewand#160;
Review
andquot;Pakand#39;s pretty, digitally worked watercolors achieve equilibrium between stylized reduction and naturalistic verisimilitude.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus
andquot;A sophisticated blend of scientific information and artistry.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter's snowy landscape in this magical book.
Synopsis
Part poem, part silent stage with luminous light-box illustrations, this innovative picture book puts autumn on display to captureand#160;the art and scienceand#160;ofand#160;season change.and#160;
Synopsis
Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures falland#8212;then snow! Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.
Synopsis
Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold summons forth the charms and dictates of winter. Just as Joyce Sidman captured the drama of the pond in Song of the Water Boatman and the night woods in Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, here she captures the drama of the cold.
and#160;
Why donand#8217;t snakes freeze to death?
and#160;
How does the tiny honeybee survive frost?
Learnand#160;aboutand#160; the secret lives of animals happening under the snow and howand#160;itand#160;buds to spring!
Synopsis
Come to the bitter cold that blows through these poems! Feel the warmth of life that breathes into the beaver burrowing deep beneath the snow.
Discover the safe places where creatures survive, and how they stay alive in the wintertimeand#8212;untiland#160; roots poke from puddles of slush and broken ice to welcome the sun!
Then watch as spring melts the frost from this outstanding collection of poems paired with stunning linoleum prints that celebrate nature, along with her beauty and power.
Synopsis
The Caldecott Honorand#8211;winning author-illustrator Steve Jenkins presents a series of animals withand#160;unusual eyes in this eye-catching picture book!
Synopsis
In this rhyming poetic picture book, exploreand#160;the wonders ofand#160;natural cooperation between plants, animals and insects.
Synopsis
Flowers areand#160;calling to all the animals of the forest, andquot;Drink me!andquot;andmdash;but itandrsquo;s the pollinators who feast on their nectar. In rhyming poetic form and with luminous artwork, this book shows us the marvel of natural cooperation between plants, animals, and insects as they each play their part in the forestand#39;s cycle of life.
Synopsis
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; In this outstanding picture book collection of poems by Newbery Honor-winning poet, Joyce Sidman (
Song of the Water Boatman,
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night)
, discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow. Paired with stunning linoleum print illustrations by Rick Allen, that celebrate natureand#39;s beauty and power.
and#160;
About the Author
Kate Messner is a middle school teacher and the author of several books for young readers, including the Sea Monster series. She is the recipient of an E. B. White Read Aloud Award, and she lives on Lake Champlain.
Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author who regularly contributes to the New York Times, The New Yorker, and creates book covers for various publishers. He has directed short animated videos for Kate Spade and Anthropologie and was awarded a medal from the Society of Illustrators for his work in motion graphics.
He illustrated the acclaimed picture books Over and Under the Snow and Lifetime, both of which explore the natural world. Over and Under the Snow, with author Kate Messner was praised for its "stunning retro-style illustrations" (New York Times), was a 2011 New York Times Editor's Choice and won an E.B. White Honor Award in 2012. He recently contributed art to New York Times Best Seller, Goodnight Songs a collection of poems by author of Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown. Neal's self-authored book debut "Everyone" will be published by Candlewick press in 2015.
He exhibits drawings at galleries and speaks at events around the world. He currently works and lives in Brooklyn and teaches Illustration at Pratt Institute.