Spectacular Science: A Book of Poems

From Publishers Weekly An intriguing picture book celebrates the sense of wonder that motivates scientists. The first poem, "What Is Science?" by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, catalogues the sheer range of phenomena that science covers: "The study of soil, oil, and gas./ Of sea and sky,/ of seed and grass." The subsequent 24 poems describe an encounter with a deer, a neglected magnet and the uniqueness of snowflakes as the poets pay close attention to nature. Whether the subjects all qualify as "science" may be in doubt, but the poems each evoke the mysteriousness of the physical world. Hopkins (Marvelous Math) includes an enigmatic poem by Carl SandburgA"The stars tell nothingAand everything"Aalong with newer poets like Aileen Fisher, who asks in "The Seed," "How does it know,/ this little seed,/ if it is to grow/ to a flower or weed?" The real star here is Halstead (Daughter, Have I Told You?), whose artwork possesses a surrealistic quality and who favors the playfulness behind imagination over scientific objectivity. In one spread, a scientist and a grinning reptile perched on a giant beaker lock eyes; in another, a child unzips an overcast sky to reveal the clear blue on the other side. Luminous colors, layers of texture and dreamlike images create a distinctive look. Though the collection's definition of science may be expansive to the point of being amorphous, it offers proof positive that poetry and science share a profound delight in observing the world around us. Ages 5-up. (Aug.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 2-6 Rocks, snowflakes, stars, and a dinosaur bone are some of the subjects that come under the observant eye of poets such as Valerie Worth, Lilian Moore, Carl Sandburg, David McCord, and Alice Schertle. Hopkins's selection of 15 poems clearly offers an invitation to ponder what science is and what scientists do. Halstead's paintings offer fresh, original, and decidedly quirky visual interpretations of the poems. Rendered in "oil pastels, oil bars, wax, and Prisma color pencils," they feature a variety of textures and have a multilayered appearance. Presented on large double-page spreads and filled with bold forms and colors, the illustrations are riveting, even from a distance. A delightful, thought-provoking anthology that is in short spectacular. Carolyn Angus, The Claremont Graduate School, CA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.