Seymour Simon
Amazing Aircraft
eBook
(StarWalk Kids Media Sept. 20, 2012)
Grade 1-3-Simon gets to the essence of his subjects through bold, dramatic color photographs and short, crisp texts. The first book draws comparisons between how long it took early aircraft to accomplish their missions and how long it takes modern planes; the inclusion of data about an aircraft of the future adds a touch of excitement. The description of the Hindenburg tragedy, however, seems stuck in between the discussions of various types of vehicles and their capabilities. Still, this is a good introductory title. Volcanoes begins with two full-page spreads of volcanoes erupting, first with a sky of smoke and then with a sky of fire. There can be no doubt in youngsters' minds that they are reading about something powerful, and Simon describes the damage as well as the positive aspects of these explosions. The photographs are so compelling that it is a shame that they are not identified (although the sources are given). How a volcano changes the weather and how lava comes through that hole in the ground are left unanswered, but this introductory book is meant to whet the appetite, and that it does. Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.