Spiky, Slimy, Smooth

May 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 2-A variety of textures and surfaces is shown and contrasted in this casually structured visual feast. The examples include objects and foods with soft, gooey, dry, sharp, smooth, slimy, crunchy, hard surfaces that can be experienced by mouth, by touch, and some both ways. Each texture is described with one or more adjectives, which are highlighted in color. Most spreads reveal two examples. "Sticky and gooey" shows jam-covered toast opposite "gooey and very ooooooozy" mud-covered feet. The large size of the book and full-bleed photos (many close-up) give readers a sense of intimacy, as does the informal font choice. The brief text on each page is superimposed over the images or set against a textured beige background. Not really a book on the sense of touch and not really a book on adjectives, this amalgam will work in either science or language arts classrooms. But just browsing and enjoying the lovely photos will appeal to youngsters as well.-Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2011

The first in a planned series of four Clever Concepts books, Brocket's debut for children focuses on the sense of touch, but is also a visual feast and a treat for adjective-lovers. "Touch your nose. How does it feel? The way something feels is called texture." From this simple introductory definition, the author goes on to describe how a host of objects might feel. From mud, bricks and snow to jam, cactus spines, gummy worms and squash, there are sure to be many things within these pages that are familiar to readers, even if they have not experienced them all. Simple sentences describe how each item feels, sometimes comparing it to other featured objects and often encouraging readers to try something, such as biting an apple or rubbing old flower heads between their fingers. Each of the adjectives describing texture is written in a different type color, making it easy for children to pick them out and perhaps think of some more on their own. Brocket's stunning photographs truly make the concept of texture real to children. The colors, shapes and textures pop off the pages, making it seem as if they just might be touchable. The segue from group read-aloud to touch-fest is easily made. Guard the eggs—this is likely to lead to some independent explorations. (Informational picture book. 3-7)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

April 15, 2011
Preschool-G Bright, attention-grabbing, and, in some cases, enlarged photographs of hard candies, duck slippers, stone walls, and other common objects give viewers the impression that they can reach out and touch them. Thats exactly the point in this first Jane Brockets Clever Concepts book, which introduces texture to young children. It not only lets readers imagine what a woolly blanket or cactus plant might feel like but offers a host of adjectives, highlighted in color, to describe their textures. In a look at a variety of squash, for example, Brocket suggests that they can be plain and smooth, knobbly and warty, or curvy and lumpy. Double-page spreads also link similar textures, such as slippy and slidy tomatoes in olive oil and slimy egg yolks. The author even reminds childrenwith images of mud oozing between toes and a firm and crunchy applethat texture is not always experienced with ones hands and fingers. A final spread with more inviting photographs asks readers to describe the textures around them. Clever, indeed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)