Tag: Eduard Altarriba

My First Book of Microbes: Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi, and More (Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón & Eduard Altarriba)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is My First Book of Microbes: Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi, and More by Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón and Eduard Altarriba, fourth book in the pair’s nonfiction My First Book of Science series.

What are microbes? Well, they’re viruses, like the kind that get you sick. Or algae, like we see in the water. Some are single-celled protozoa or fungi, and some are microorganisms that live on our bodies! In fact, that’s the most surprising fact of all: microbes are all alive! This colorful compendium of tiny science walks the reader through the fascinating world of the smallest living beings on earth.

A timely addition to a STEM-tastic series. Those who appreciate the previous My First Book of Science titles will already be familiar with Ferròn and Altarriba’s educational and visually-entertaining style, combing eye-catching spreads with tons of fascinating and in-depth scientific information. In addition to exploring microbes themselves, the text dives into other “tiny science,” like microscopic animals such as water bears, how antibiotics and vaccines work, and how to stop the transmission of viruses and bacteria. At a time when young readers are surrounded with a great deal of misinformation on the spread of diseases and infections, this is a welcome addition. The length and content make this one best for older elementary or middle-grade readers, but JJ enjoyed many of the subjects we looked at, especially the quirky illustrations. Another stellar STEM title from a tried-and-true series, and we liked it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

My First Book of the Cosmos (Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón & Eduard Altarriba)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is My First Book of the Cosmos by Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón and Eduard Altarriba, third in their series of kid-friendly guides to advanced scientific concepts.

As with the previous titles (Quantum Physics and Relativity), this colorful guidebook invites readers along to explore sophisticated elements of astrophysics and cosmology, including gravity, cosmic background radiation, the different types of stars and how they are born and die, and so much more. Laid out with practical demonstrations and visually engaging illustrations, budding scientists can read the cosmic calendar, explore wormholes, and study the secrets of dark matter. So settle in: the universe awaits!

Fantastic. Ferrón and Altaribba’s guidebooks for young scientists are always a delight, managing a wonderful mix of mind-expanding science that is made intelligible for kids (and laymen adults) without being overly-dumbed down. Altaribba’s midcentury-modern style illustrations add perfectly to this, weaving together technical drawings and exaggerated cartoon characters to create entertaining yet informative visual aids. This is a lengthy book, and definitely best for its intended middle-grade audience and older, but JJ still enjoyed the artwork and learning some of the simpler concepts. A wonderful addition to the collection, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Discovering Architecture (Eduard Altarriba & Berta Bardí I Milà)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Discovering Architecture by Eduard Altarriba and Berta Bardí I Milà, an illustrated primer in historical world architecture for young bookworms.

Moving in a generally chronological order, readers are given a visual crash course in architecture, both its history and principles, using Altarriba’s fantastic educational-illustrative style. Bookworms can learn about the tallest buildings in the world, the history of city planning and building materials, and meet some of the most recognized architects in history, then take a look forward to the future of green and interplanetary architecture.

There’s a lot to like about this visual encyclopedia: the detailed, appealing artwork, which does a great job of illustrating the concepts and science on display, and how the text takes complex elements of construction and engineering and puts them in child-friendly and accessible terms. The two unnamed child characters that act as guides give the book a sense of cohesion and a touch of friendly engagement. However, there are a few weak areas, especially representation: only one of the architects featured is female and/or nonwhite, and most of the architecture is Euro-centric; while smatterings of Asian, Middle Eastern, and US architecture are featured, Latin America, Australia and sub-Saharan Africa pop up only very occasionally. The length is definitely for slightly older, middle-grade bookworms, though JJ still enjoyed the lovely artwork. This is by no means a definitive volume, but is still a great primer for readers curious about the science and history of architecture. Rough around the edges, but we liked it – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

My First Book Of Relativity (Sheddad Kaid-Sala Ferrón)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is My First Book Of Relativity, written by Sheddad Kaid-Sala Ferrón and illustrated by Eduard Altarriba, second in the pair’s picture book science guide series.

In the introduction, the reader is acquainted with Albert Einstein, who famously proposed theories on the relation between time and space that would change the way we thought about the universe. His theories of special relativity and general relativity – which applied to physical phenomena in the absence and presence of gravity respectively – may seem confusing, but they are applicable to any number of things in our everyday lives, and to the entire universe that surrounds us. Breaking down these big ideas into smaller, more easily-understood concepts for young readers, this guide shows how time, space, and the forces of each can relate to each other in fascinating and incredible ways.

Very cool! A companion to the pair’s previous My First Book Of Quantum Physics, this illustrated nonfiction book is simply packed with big scientific concepts broken down into more digestible facts, and in plain language. Einstein himself appears often, along with his child companion Alice and a diverse cast of extras, to help explain things like time dilation, the history of clocks, how frames of reference help measure speed and direction, and much more. The cartoonish art style is adorable yet occasionally stunning, such as the spread the features an astronaut adrift in the void of space. Improvements have been made to the layout of the informational text since the last book, and the page design is engaging yet organized and easy to read. This book is definitely for middle-grade and older readers, but JJ loved the illustrations, and we look forward to revisiting this as she gets older to learn together. A wonderful guide that invites young readers to grasp advanced science, and we love it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)