The Little Brainwaves investigate... Animals by Caroline Bingham. London: DK (Dorling Kindersley, Ltd), 2010
This is evidently one of a series of "The Little Brainwaves investigate..." books in production by DK.
The Little Brainwaves are little cartoon people with big ideas. The book contains photographs of various animals, the usual DK short paragraphs of information (this time confined in rounded white rectangles), plus these cartoon people crawling, climbing, jumping, etc. all over the pages. It reminds me of the National Geographic Magazine for Kids or parts of Cricket Magazine.
The reason it's on my Nonfiction Review Page?
Because the reading level is much lower than the average DK Eyewitness book, making it easy for a first or second grader.
Does it seem like your usual DK book? Yes.
There is no in depth information, just the usual DK tidbits. Each type of animal is covered in ONE double page spread. Mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects (and spiders -- eeeuuu). If your young reader wants to read more about them, a good children's librarian can help him or her find other books on the subject.
The Brainwaves were created by Lisa Swerling and Ralph Lazar and are an original cartoon property owned by their company, Last Lemon Productions, which originates, produces, and licenses cartoon properties which convey the vibrancy and humour that is at the heart of all their work. (Their description of their company.)
Some other Brainwaves book was given the 2009 Parents' Choice Award Winner for The Most Explosive Science Book in the Universe. This blurb on the back cover carefully does not say which one of the Brainwaves books won this award. Unwary book buyers may think that whatever book of the series they hold in their hands is the award winner.
Fair?
or not fair advertising?
You tell me.
Other Nonfiction Monday posts can be found at the blog, Shelf-Employed.
-wendieO
1 comment:
I’ll have to take a look at it before I can give my opinion, but you raise an interesting question. It is nice to see a big DK book that’s appropriate for younger readers, though. I’ll keep an eye out for it.
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