Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* From Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? (1993) to What's So Special about Planet Earth? (2009), Wells' picture books have been all about expanding young children's horizons. His new book, on the sun, provides an approachable introduction to the subject while laying the groundwork for understanding topics (gravity, nuclear fusion) that students will tackle in later years. Beginning with the sun itself, the presentation quickly comes down to earth in a child-friendly way, with an elephant who needs our closest star for warmth, for food (created through photosynthesis), and even for water (evaporated from the sea and blown inland to fall as rain or snow). The discussion of gravity starts with the elephant, then shifts to the solar system and the sun's core. Wells also shows how people have used the sun, from ancient sundials to modern solar panels and wind turbines. Featuring the elephant and his three monkey friends, the book's naïve ink-and-watercolor illustrations are often playful in approach. Simple diagrams are occasionally used to clarify more abstract concepts, such as the transfer of heat through the sun's layers. This title offers an appealing introduction to the sun, as well as a solid stepping-stone toward scientific literacy.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Wells presents such concepts as photosynthesis, gravity, nuclear fusion, and the sun's effect on weather conditions in an appealing, easy-to-understand format. Pen and acrylic cartoon illustrations and simple diagrams strongly support and enhance the text. Information is factual and up-to-date (Pluto is not included with the solar system diagram) and covers the purposes and uses of the sun over the years, from telling time to generating electricity. By using the elephant to relate the level of importance the sun plays in the lives of all living things, Wells has found a unique way to teach some otherwise difficult concepts. Some readers might stumble over science terms such as "nuclear fusion," "electromagnetic energy," "photosphere," etc., although they are explained in both text and illustrations. The book concludes with 10 comic-strip-style panels of "Did You Know?" interesting facts. Overall, this is an excellent resource for budding young scientists.-Cathie Bashaw Morton, Millbrook Central School District, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Lively, cartoonish pen-and-ink illustrations (including some scientific diagrams) and a brief text attempt to explain how animals on Earth use the sun. The scientific vocabulary is a little challenging for the audience to which the art seems aimed; a glossary and pronunciation guide would be helpful. Nevertheless, for precocious science-loving youngsters, this is a solid choice. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Simple explanations of photosynthesis, the water cycle, gravity, nuclear fusion and sun energy are linked together by the answer to the title question: Elephants need the sun for food, water, oxygen and their earth-bound place in space. In Wells's latest exploration (What's So Special About Planet Earth?, 2009, etc.) of the natural world, he makes his complicated topic appealing with ink-and-acrylic illustrations showing both elephants and baboons among plants and trees, looking sadly at a dried-up water hole, cavorting in the rain, standing on a seesaw, even investigating a wind turbine. Large type and the definition of many key terms in context will help emergent readers. Three spreads require turning the book sideways, emphasizing the distance from sky to ground. A series of fast-fact panels at the end offer more about the sun, including some familiar statistics. A final "Thank You Note to the World's Scientists" mentions many branches of science that relate to this topic, but the author cites no specific sources. Less demanding and less informative than Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm's Living Sunlight (2009), this is an easy, solid introduction. (Informational picture book. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
