Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound (Start with Science) - Hardcover

Waring, Geoff

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763640255 ISBN 13: 9780763640255

Publisher: Candlewick, 2008

Synopsis

Start with Science books introduce kids to core science concepts through engaging stories, fresh illustrations, and supplemental activities.

When Oscar hears a blackbird singing in the meadow, Bat swoops in to talk to him about sound. A sudden thunderstorm and a visiting cow give Oscar lots of opportunities to learn about sounds that are loud or soft, near or far, deep or high.

About this title

About the Author

Geoff Waring has worked as a graphic designer and is the illustrator of BLACK MEETS WHITE by Justine Fontes. He says that the Oscar books are based on his own cat. He lives in London.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2—A young cat discovers that there's a lot to learn. In the first book, he admires bird songs and then runs from the noise of an approaching thunderstorm while a bat points out some characteristics of sound. In the second title, the feline plays with a ball as a friendly cricket points out the principles behind its motion. Without using scientific vocabulary, the author introduces the concepts of force, resistance, speed or pitch, volume, and proximity. Additional examples are incorporated into the respective story lines. A final spread provides a review of the scientific principles and suggests simple exploratory activities. The digitally produced, full-bleed artwork has muted tones and mostly flat shapes reminiscent of illustrations from the 1950s. Children will recognize themselves in Oscar in these discussion starters. For similar content but a more exuberant approach to motion, try Claire Llewellyn's And Everyone Shouted, "Pull!" (Picture Window, 2005).—Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI
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Clear and immediate, this story in the Start with Science fiction series talks about the great variety of sounds around us—harsh, gentle, high, scary, and beautiful. Spacious digital color illustrations show Oscar the Cat in a meadow with his friend Bat, who answers Oscar’s questions with fascinating scientific detail, such as how various animals use different parts of their bodies to communicate (dolphins send messages underwater through their blowholes and rattlesnakes lift and shake their tails); what makes sound; and what we can hear when we listen carefully. The two animals also speak about the wonder of silence. Without abstraction, this picture book will fascinate beginning readers and make them aware of the biology and physics involved in listening to the simplest sounds. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0763640255
• ISBN 13: 9780763640255
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Waring Geoff