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bethtabler's review
4.0
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an electronic copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
First off, I love that the author is attempting to simplify a large and slightly esoteric concept like patterning for children. It isn't a science-based book, but more of a general introduction to some pattern types found in nature and how they relate to kids. Trees have particles that spin and kids spin, see. I like that, it is a nice way to make a connection with a young child. My only complaint about the subject matter is it isn't in the science category or in the children's general category. I think the story could really benefit from the specific introduction of certain patterns like the golden ratio instead of staying vague. It's beautiful and kids could see how it is everywhere if they know what to look for.
All in all, it is a lovely book, both written and illustrated with a high degree and sensitivity to the need and understanding of children. I recommend it for kids around the age of 5.
First off, I love that the author is attempting to simplify a large and slightly esoteric concept like patterning for children. It isn't a science-based book, but more of a general introduction to some pattern types found in nature and how they relate to kids. Trees have particles that spin and kids spin, see. I like that, it is a nice way to make a connection with a young child. My only complaint about the subject matter is it isn't in the science category or in the children's general category. I think the story could really benefit from the specific introduction of certain patterns like the golden ratio instead of staying vague. It's beautiful and kids could see how it is everywhere if they know what to look for.
All in all, it is a lovely book, both written and illustrated with a high degree and sensitivity to the need and understanding of children. I recommend it for kids around the age of 5.
rkiladitis's review
4.0
Readers are encouraged to explore patterns in nature in this mindful rhyming book. A diverse group of children play and relax in an open park area in the opening spread. The text playfully crawls around the scene, encouraging kids to "Look, climb, dig, flow. Breathe in deep, around you go. Twirl, whirl, swirl, grow. Explore, find more, join the show." The text inspires readers to look for patterns everywhere: observe, dig, explore, climb; a tree trunk splits, branches split, and below the ground, roots split and grow; water branches off into smaller bodies of water, and our own lungs have little branches like mini-trees, reaching for air. Nature twirls and whirls, like the galaxies in space or two friends at play; pine cones, storm clouds, and snail shells all swirl. It's an interesting way to introduce scientific inquiry to burgeoning scientists. An author's note goes further into the "secret code" hidden in the shapes of things, and suggests additional resources for more reading.
The artwork is the star in this book. Multilayered screen prints and muted colors create a setting where patterns gently emerge, waiting for readers to spot them: triangles on a tree or bush; cracks in the dirt and roots underground reach out. Flow Spin Grow is a good purchase for primary science collections; I also love Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes' award-winning Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, and Jane Brocket's Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What Are Patterns?
The artwork is the star in this book. Multilayered screen prints and muted colors create a setting where patterns gently emerge, waiting for readers to spot them: triangles on a tree or bush; cracks in the dirt and roots underground reach out. Flow Spin Grow is a good purchase for primary science collections; I also love Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes' award-winning Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, and Jane Brocket's Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What Are Patterns?
barbarianlibarian's review
2.0
felt like this was more of an abstract sounding picture book vs a truly educational book about nature/science
brookworm's review
2.0
I read & evaluated this book for the Vancouver Children's Round Table (VCLR)'s 2019 Information Book Award.
Here are the things I did not enjoy about this book:
-It took me a long time to finally figure out what this book was actually about.
-There was no consistency
-Sometimes there was a rhyming song, sometimes not
-There was no explination as to what the book is about (patterns?)
-The "Explore" page sort of answers the above question, but would have been much more beneficial at the beginning of the book.
Some things I did like:
-It was nicely illustrated
-It has a good title
Here are the things I did not enjoy about this book:
-It took me a long time to finally figure out what this book was actually about.
-There was no consistency
-Sometimes there was a rhyming song, sometimes not
-There was no explination as to what the book is about (patterns?)
-The "Explore" page sort of answers the above question, but would have been much more beneficial at the beginning of the book.
Some things I did like:
-It was nicely illustrated
-It has a good title
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