Lots

by Marc Martin (Author, Illustrator)

Hong Kong, the Amazon, Antarctica, India – from the villages, towns and cities where most people live, to the deserts and vast oceans that cover the surface of the Earth, there is lots to discover, experience and learn from our planet. A book about everything for all ages.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Geography, Environment, Travel, Science

40 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful large size book showing you countries of the world on a double page spread with lots of little illustrations of buildings, food, people, animals and culture. The illustrations are beautiful, small and intricate, there is so much to look at in this book. A great book for a child to read on a journey or to look through before bed. A few more pages and this would have been a 5 star for me.

[Phoebe Ledster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Martin’s book! It’s an exhilarating exploration of the wonders of our world and would be fantastic to share with children who love fiction and facts or a good place to start with children that aren’t so keen (yet!). It’s easy to read and a very calming and interesting one too!

[Tom Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing picturebook! Gorgeous illustrations and brimming with facts, each double page spread focuses on a different part of the world from the Amazon to New York to Moscow. The kind of book you want to lose yourself in!

[Kinga (oazaksiazek) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Przepięknie ilustrowana książka dla młodszych i starszych czytelników pokazująca różnorodność otaczającego nas świata.

Tekstu jest w niej tak naprawdę bardzo mało, ale kolorowe ilustracje jakoś wynagradzają te braki. Dziecko może nie tylko czytać, ale także oglądać, co przy większym formacie jest bardzo ciekawym urozmaiceniem dla oczu.

Ta pozycja rozbudza ciekawość świata, ukazuje różne oblicza miast i kontynentów oraz zachęca do zgłębiania wiedzy na interesujące nas tematy. Każdy znajdzie w niej coś dla siebie, bo autor odnosi się nie tylko do architektury, lokalnych zwierząt czy roślin, ale także do typowo turystycznych kwestii.

Mnie zabrakło w niej takiej wnikliwości i może kilkunastu stron, aby stała się moim ulubieńcem, ale i tak polecam, bo to niesamowicie wydana książka. Najlepiej wypożyczyć ją z biblioteki a potem ewentualnie jeśli przypadnie Wam to gustu, można ją zakupić.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each double-page spread shows a different city or place from around the world. The pages are filled with illustrations and short facts about each of these places and the things and people found within them. The illustrations are lovely, the only negative I have is that the pages are quite distracting and some of the text is difficult to read. It would be a nice book for reluctant readers in KS2. I can see children enjoying this book and reading with others. Pages could also be used to support class topics. The book is suitable for both KS1 and KS2.

[BrookesEducationLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning book that explores different parts of the world through beautifully laid out illustrations and interesting tidbits of information. Did you know that in Antarctica, there is only one ATM at McMurdo Station to get money from on the whole continent! Crazy!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Books Count.

I was honestly entranced by this one. Beautiful, captivating and honestly funny? Most charming of today’s reads.

[Vellanorah · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the list of best kids books and nah. It was not great. No story just a lot of messy pictures and names of things. Would not recommend.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully, and intricately illustrated book showcasing different places around the world. I wish there were lots more pages.

[Truong Binh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple but interesting book

[I _teach_muggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is certainly lots for readers to enjoy about Marc Martin’s book ‘Lots’. Martin is an expert guide for this fascinating look at fifteen places of the world as he takes readers on a whistle-stop tour and uncovers what makes each place so special and unique.

Venture from Hong Kong - one of the most densely populated cities on earth (and whilst you are there be sure to take a ride on the the longest outdoor escalator in the world) - to Ulaanbaatar, the least densely populated city in the world. In Tokyo, you’ll find a city full of vending machines where you can get everything from umbrellas to bananas to underwear! Although you’ll only be able to see all these different vending machines if you’re able to get across the road as Tokyo is home to the the busiest street crossing in the world. In Paris you can indulge on delicious pastries, in Brazil you can top up your tan and relax on one of the many beaches and in New York City be on the look out for any of the two million rats that lurk on the streets (well hopefully underground and within the sewers). Oh, and don’t forget to take some cash with you when visiting Antartica as there’s only one ATM. There’s so much wildlife to see too. In the Galapagos Islands you’ll find marine iguanas - the only lizard that swims in the ocean. And there are all manner of amazing creatures living in the Amazon Rainforest, the most biodiverse tropical rainforest on the planet. My favourite is the kinkajou that can turn its feet backwards and run in the opposite direction (imagine being able to do that!).

Each place is given a double page spread and is jam-packed with colourful, hand-drawn illustrations and all manner of information. There are fun facts, quirky facts and a bit of humour thrown in too.

Globetrotters and wanna-be travellers both young and old will love exploring the different places and finding out what makes each one so incredible. Where will you want to venture to next? I quite fancy hanging out the with penguins in Antarctica!

Recommended for 5+.

[Κόκκινη Αλεπού · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το βιβλίο του Αυστραλού δημιουργού Marc Martin τα έχει (σχεδόν) όλα ή τουλάχιστον έχει… πολλά! Πολλά μέρη, πολλές πολλά ζώα, πολλά κτήρια, πολλές πληροφορίες, πολλές σελίδες (32 τον αριθμό για την ακρίβεια), πολλούς πιγκουίνους, πολλούς παπαγάλους, πολλούς ανθρώπους, πολλές πέτρες. To “Ολα” είναι ένα διαφορετικό βιβλίο γνώσεων για παιδιά, που ταξιδεύει τον αναγνώστη από το Χονγκ Κονγκ μέχρι τον Αμαζόνιο και από το Ουλάν Μπατόρ μέχρι την Ανταρκτική και δίνει την ευκαιρία μέσα από την εντυπωσιακή και λεπτομερέστατη εικονογράφηση και τις δεκάδες πληροφορίες ανά εικονογραφημένο σαλόνι να γνωρίσουν τα μέρη που επιλέγει για να τα ξεναγήσει.

Σαν ένα σημειωματάριο πάνω στη ζωή στον πλανήτη Γη, ένα είδος ίσως ταξιδιωτικού οδηγού, ο Marc Martin ζωγραφίζει και παρακινεί τον αναγνώστη να παρατηρήσει, να διαβάσει, να μάθει. Πέρα όμως από όλα αυτά, το “Ολα” είναι ένας φόρος τιμής στον Τσέχο δημιουργό παιδικών βιβλίων Miroslav Šašek, που έγινε διάσημος για τη σειρά εικονογραφημένων ταξιδιωτικών οδηγών “This is…“. Τα βιβλία αυτά, 18 τον αριθμό, που εκδόθηκαν μεταξύ 1959 και 1974 (και επανεκδόθηκαν σχετικά πρόσφατα απο τον ιταλικό εκδοτικό οίκο Rizzoli), αποτέλεσαν την πηγή έμπνευσης για το υπέροχο εικαστικά και αισθητικά βιβλίο του Martin.

Περισσότερα εδώ--> https://kokkinialepou.gr/ola

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up in my local library and spent the rest of the time alternatively amusing and annoying everyone around me with the random facts contained within e.g. There is only one ATM on the entire continent of Antarctica or the fact that Icelanders drink more cola per person than anyone else in the world.
Unfortunately, it was over too soon - I wanted more places!
A brilliant book to get children interested in geography and other countries and cultures; I just wish that there had been a wider variety of places represented!

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not 100% sure about this one. I love the illustration style and the dense pages that require close examination, but wasn't sure about the randomness of the information within. Will buy it for our library, but unsure how students will respond.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visually stimulating and detailed look at fifteen different locations around the globe. Wonderful!

[Anna Wallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Väldigt trevlig bilderbok!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. The illustrations are awesome. Highly recommended for school libraries.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quirky view of the world that would be useful to support geography teaching. Presents a diverse view of the world.

[Paul Graham Terpstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book about everything in the world. So much to discover!
Very interesting details about all these different places

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feeding and satisfying these three characteristics in young readers, LOTS by Marc Martin is an eye-catching, exhilarating ride round the globe, ideal for (encouraging) perceptive, enthusiastic young citizens of the world, hungry for quirky facts and figures.

A sampler of breathtaking places, surprising details, and less typically celebrated facts about life in 14 different locations across all continents, LOTS is a visual banquet that will leave you hungry to go exploring, amazed at the richness and variety and full technicolour glory of the planet we live on.

Each double page spread is dedicated to one location, with information (written and illustrated) flowing off and over the edges of each page, introducing aspects of local flora, fauna, food, geography, transport, commerce, architecture and even facial hair and body language! It’s a travel guide tasting menu, similarly aiming to excite, surprise and suggest. A starting point to induce awe and itchy feet!

The sheer illustrative detail (can you imagine drawing all the 198 cyclists taking part in the Tour de France? A 30-strong flock of flamingoes? 100 hanging street signs?) is mind-boggling and marvellous. The rich colours add to the intensity created simply by the abundance of everything on each page. And for those who want the thrill of the hunt, every page has a hidden flag and the narrator of the book waiting to be spotted.

[Bücherhöhlenkobold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gestaltung:
Das 25x43 cm große Hardcover Buch ist schon ganz schön riesig. Das muss es auch sein, denn sonst würde der Platz nicht ausreichen für die zahlreichen großen und kleinen Illustrationen, die je Doppelseite thematisch zusammengehören. Das ist recht übersichtlich, nur eine deutlicher abgegrenzte Farbwahl innerhalb der einzelnen Themen hätte ich noch schöner gefunden, so dass beim Umblättern für das Kind direkt ersichtlich ist, dass etwas Neues beginnt. (Bei den aufeinanderfolgenden Thema „Antarktis“ (hauptsächlich Blautöne) und „Alice Springs“ (vorwiegend Orangetöne) gefällt mir das sehr, die anderen Themen sind aber optisch nicht so stark abgegrenzt.)
Die Bilder nutzen das volle Farbspektrum, wirken weich und freundlich, sind aber sehr detailliert. Ich finde sie wunderschön und lehrreich. Da es sich um Collagen handelt, hat das Buch einen gewissen Wimmelbild-Charme, der den Entdeckergeist des Betrachtenden anregt. Obwohl es schon etwas länger her ist, dass ich 3 Jahre alt war, hatte ich viel Freunde beim Erkunden.

Inhalt:
Das Buch beginnt mit einer zauberhaften Weltkarte, auf der die einzelnen „Stationen“ gekennzeichnet sind.
Nach einer kurzen Anmerkung des Autors folgen die scheinbar zufällig gewählten Themen, die auf jeweils einer kunterbunten Doppelseite dargestellt werden. „Scheinbar zufällig“, da nicht nur bekannte Ziele dabei sind wie New York und Paris, sondern auch solche, von denen man möglicherweise auch als Erwachsener gar nicht so viel weiß (wie zum Beispiel Ulan-Bator). Das finde ich toll!
Über die einzelnen „Reiseziele“ geben die Bilder und stichpunktartige Texte dann winzige Informationshäppchen preis, die ich alle sehr interessant finde. Ganz sicher werden die kleinen Entdecker hier weitere Fragen haben bzw. mehr über einige der gezeigten Menschen, Tiere, Gebäude etc. wissen wollen.
Ein Konzept, das zum Nachdenken und Fragen stellen anregt finde ich natürlich genial. Die begleitenden Erwachsenen sollten hier allerdings besonders viel Zeit und Geduld mitbringen, um auf die Fragen der Kinder eingehen zu können.
Somit ist dies wohl kein Buch für zwischendurch und zumindest auch anfangs keines mit dem sich das Kind alleine befassen kann. Dafür hat es meiner Meinung nach aber ein großartiges Bildungspotenzial und das gemeinsame Ansehen und Entdecken bietet eine schöne Möglichkeit für eine gemeinsame Aktivität.
Ich bin mir sicher, dass „Alles“ ein Buch ist, das lange interessant bleibt und möglicherweise auch von älteren Kindern genutzt werden kann, um sich - unter Anleitung versteht sich – mit den vielfältigen Möglichkeiten, über ihre Interessen zu recherchieren (Bücherei, Artikel im Internet, etc), vertraut zu machen und somit ihre Lernkompetenz zu erweitern.

[FM Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Marc Martin's illustrations, and maybe this one will resonate more for older kids. But something about it, it's so random the items he chooses for each page and the spaces he chooses to focus on in the book. It is visually really interesting but feels like something is missing to bring it to the level of more successful books of this type like What do Grown Ups Do All Day, 100 Things That Make Me Happy, or Richard Scarry, which I recognize is not a coherent style, but basically books with a bunch of pictures of stuff with a loose narrative linking them.

[Samuel Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children’s encyclopaedia is not the same genre as those used by adults. Whilst the older generation had to make do with giant tomes filled with information and perhaps, if you are lucky, a small black and white picture every now and again; the kids get full colour books with more images than facts. ‘‘Lots’’ by Marc Martin takes this even further by reducing the facts even further and bombarding your eyeballs with illustrations.

Marc Martin is an illustrator and author who has a distinct style and runs with it. ‘‘Lots’’ is so called because each double spread of this hardback version of the book is packed with lots and lots of images about a given subject. Most of the pages feature a famous city, but there are also other pages that cover objects such as the ocean. To portray the information Martin has filled every inch of the page with his watercolour style illustrations. A given city may be New Delhi and rather than telling you all there is about this city, he portrays a vibrant slice by highlighting things such as rickshaws, weddings and bangles.

Your reaction to ‘‘Lots’’ will depend highly on what you want and expect from a book that seeks to inform. There is no way that this book can be considered the be all and end all of information, even in the increasingly information lite books that are being made available for children. The style adopted by Martin means that the book almost drops out of the encyclopaedia genre and into that of the coffee table book. As something to behold, it looks great. Each page is jam packed with colour and attracts the eye.

However, does it have more than a function as a piece of art? The fact that it does not provide a huge amount of useful information means that it is not actually that useful for a child to use. Try writing a short paragraph on a given city from this book, you would struggle. The entire nature of ‘‘Lots’’ is sporadic. It is lots of random things thrown onto a page. Random facts about random topics. If Martin had called the book ‘‘Lots: Major Cities’’ it would have made some sense, but by splicing the likes of Cape Town with The Amazon means that the book just feels like it has a scattergun approach.

With the book being unable to inform perhaps it is best seen as one of those children’s books that appeal mostly to an adult. I imagine that a child attracted to pictures, rather than words, would appreciate this book, but they would still require another book to accompany it if they planned to actually learn anything. With a series of more topic based books Martin may have been able to impart enough information on a given subject, whilst style retaining his artistic prowess. As it is, this is a book that succeeds as art, but fails as education. Original review on thebookbag.co.uk

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations and interesting facts, this book is amazing!