Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Apr 03 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Starred Review The creators of Serengeti: Plains of Grass (2022) offer here an equally appealing introduction to this Pacific Island group. Following an introduction detailing this archipelago's volcanic origins and seasonal weather variations, Bulion presents a series of poems (many free verse) highlighting the native species of this region. They range from marine iguanas ("Clinging to boulders with steadfast grip, / scaly heads tilt as razor teeth rip") and whale sharks ("Plankton-feeding whale shark / looms into view. / School bus sized appetite / satisfied too") to prickly pear cacti ("so much depends / upon // a black carpenter / bee // sipping sweet / nectar // among yellow / flowers") and phytoplankton ("Transparent geometric forms / trap sun to help the oceans bloom / with food for zooplankton swarms"). Throughout, small captions offer additional information about these creatures and their importance to this ecosystem. Stadtlander's lush gouache-and-pastel spreads spotlight these unusual species. Blues predominate in the ocean scenes, with earth tones used for terrestrial spreads. Pinks and yellows (Galápagos land iguanas) and oranges (ghost crabs and lava lizards) focus attention on some of the more colorful creatures, as does the intricate patterning found on the large painted locust. With an afterword detailing the effects of climate change on these habitats and generous back matter, this is informative, accessible, and not to be missed.

Kirkus Reviews

The creators of Serengeti: Plains of Grass (2022) profile another distinctive locale and its unique wildlife in poems and pictures.In a prose introduction to the archipelago's origins and ecosystem, Bulion refers to "challenges" caused by the arrival of humans and picks up the theme with closing observations, also in prose, about climate change. In between, she devotes verses in a range of forms and comments in smaller type to natural creatures and features, from quiet "La garúa," the sea mist that "sifts across the islands' highlands, / catching tip-top branches of giant daisy trees," to lively "Galápagos Penguins": "With upward chase, they make a pass / at picking from the twisting mass / of rich sardines or tasty mullets, / open bills, then (gulp) down gullets!" Along with giant tortoises and tiny phytoplankton, both marine and land iguanas pose fetchingly in Stadtlander's rocky, unspoiled settings, while blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca boobies turn out their webbed toes for examination, and six types of the finches that Darwin observed parade past, displaying their distinctively shaped beaks. Each animal is identified in the backmatter, and, in a set of analytical appended notes, so is the form of each poem. (This book was reviewed digitally.)An amiable excursion, literary as well as scientific. (glossary, map, organizations devoted to the Galápagos, further reading, websites, species list) (Informational poetry. 7-11)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Haiku, tanka, soledad, as well as free verse and myriad rhyming forms offer an evocative deep dive into the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos ecosystem in this conservation-minded tribute. Many pieces honor individual species—from phytoplankton, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies to lava lizards, giant tortoises, and ghost crabs—while others on climate and seasonal change signal the passage of time (“cool ocean/ dry season... warm ocean/ wet season”). Stadtlander’s thickly colored gouache and pastel art portrays active subjects immersed in their environment, while accompanying captions further educate. Darwin’s finches get their due with free rhyme (“slight shape changes—/ finch beak variations—/ can open new food options./ That’s adaptation!”) and a full spread of six labeled finches in profile (“Fourteen new finches evolved across islands from the accidental arrival of a single species,” text adds). Bulion’s poetic tour of the islands’ specialness simultaneously underscores the importance of preservation and highlights the richness that is Earth’s ecology. A glossary, map, and poetry notes conclude. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 4–6 —Volcanoes erupting beneath the Pacific Ocean long ago gave rise to these lava-based islands. Poetry, short captions, and handsome illustrations introduce a bit of island history and some of the creatures. An introductory essay preceding the quick survey of species explains how plants and animals journeyed over and under ocean waters, over millions of years to become unique residents. The entry on zooplankton is followed by activities of the marine iguana, whale sharks, penguins, blue-footed booby, sea lion pups, sharks, and more during the dry season. As the season changes to warm and wet, painted locusts, lizards, finches, hawks, ghost crabs, giant tortoises, and more appear. Plants grow, but only the prickly pear cactus is shown—the emphasis throughout the book is the food chain, with many species eating others. The closing essay explains that now dying trade winds and human visitors are parts of climate change, disrupting the food chain of island inhabitants. A final note urges readers to be earth's stewards and protectors: "Let's choose a sustainable future, together." This attractive picture book array of animals will appeal to younger children, but the quick skim and terse wording in text segments and the many adult items in the generous array of end materials are for older readers. The poetry notes in the back matter might find fun use in high school English classes. VERDICT Likely to be most useful in the hands of creative teachers.—Margaret Bush