★ 12/12/2016
Bang and Chisholm continue their Sunlight series with a poetic, in-depth exploration of the sun’s role in the water cycle. Once again, the sun speaks directly to readers, explaining that our planet’s water is in a constant state of movement and change: “I keep water moving, cycling from sea to air to land and back again. I keep the cycle in balance.” The vibrant blues, greens, and blues of Bang's folk-art-style artwork underscore the connections between sun, water, and life, while clarifying evaporation, currents, and other topics. Lyrical writing draws into sharp focus the importance of protecting and cherishing water. An extensive afterword provides a wealth of additional detail. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)This review has been corrected to accurately reflect the author and illustrator’s contributions.
5 STARS for Rivers of Sunlight:* "The science is superb." — Horn Book, starred review* "The pairing of uncomplicated text and lavish illustration feels expansive, conveying amazement and awe through clear, yet poetic, visual explanations....A handsome invitation to earth science." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "An enlightening book on a vital topic." — Booklist, starred review*"Bang continues her Sunlight series with a poetic, in-depth exploration of the sun's role in the water cycle." — Publishers Weekly, starred review *"An outstanding choice for introducing young children to the water cycle. This is a book to return to many times." — School Library Journal, starred reviewPraise for Buried Sunlight:* "Gorgeous illustrations and impressive, urgent scientific explanation." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review* "Combining an amiable voice with unusual breadth of vision, depth of knowledge, and subtlety of presentation, this is a masterful book in a highly original science series." — Booklist, starred reviewPraise for Ocean Sunlight:A Booklist Editor's Choice & Top 10 Book for YouthA Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice TitleA Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book Title* "This ambitious, beautifully illustrated book offers information seldom covered in science books for young children." — Booklist, starred review* "Bang creates dimension and visual drama with her use of gold, blues, and black, forming an ethereal habitat for phytoplankton, jellyfish, and bioluminescent creatures." — Publishers Weekly, starred review* "An awe-inspiring lesson in photosynthesis goes under the sea. Readers will want to visit more than once to capture both the science and the abundant sense of celebration here." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ 11/01/2016
Gr 1–3—A celebration of the grandeur and power of the sun, a source of energy that provides humans with warmth and light. Told from the point of view of the sun ("I lift water from the salty sea by warming the ocean's surface waters."), this selection explores how water recycles itself. In the process of following the water cycle, kids also learn about evaporation, aquifers, the Gulf Stream, and the ocean conveyor belt. The language is descriptive and dazzling; for instance, water molecules "jiggle, jiggle, jiggle until they pop into the air, leaving their salt behind. Evaporation!" The illustrations, rendered in the familiar blue, yellow, and green of other titles in this series, beautifully illuminate the processes covered, while also rewarding careful scrutiny. This work could easily be used as a mentor text to study how words and visuals work together. It ends with a gentle plea for readers to care for the earth's waters. VERDICT An outstanding choice for introducing young children to the water cycle. This is a book to return to many times.—Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York
★ 2016-09-19
The way that the warmth of our sun creates the ebb and flow of water among Earth, its atmosphere, its oceans, and land is the subject of this latest edition to Chisholm and Bang’s gorgeous series. “I am your sun,” begins the narrative, conversationally. Bang’s brightly hued, edge-to-edge illustrations immerse the audience in the story she and Chisholm tell. The collaborators offer a kind of thrill about the workings of the water cycle from evaporation to rain, the “flying river” of water in layers of atmosphere, and the amazing current (the “great Ocean Conveyer Belt”) that flows below and near the surface of the oceans and affects every continent. A young person with brown skin and black hair appears throughout, representing both individual readers and humankind on our planet. The pairing of uncomplicated text and lavish illustration feels expansive, conveying amazement and awe through clear, yet poetic, visual explanations. The lack of a definition for “photosynthesized” seems to be the only outlier in the impressively accessible scientific presentation. Final pages mention water’s power to carve land and rock, human uses of dams and aqueducts, and the challenges of drought and flood in a warming world. The sun concludes its narrative with a promise to keep Earth’s water flowing and a request to readers to “use water sparingly and keep it clean.” A handsome invitation to earth science. (notes) (Nonfiction. 4-10)
