| 2023 |
| Memoirs of a Tortoise |
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Devin Scillian
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. 9781534110199 A tortoise reflects on a year in its life. Oliver is an 80-year-old tortoise and lives in a sunny, flowery, tropical-looking landscape with his “pet” white human, Ike, who’s also 80. The two are dear friends, and Oliver reflects on how he and Ike love each other and how they have their comfortable daily routines (“Oliver, fetch” says Ike, and they both laugh). But one day Ike is gone, and Oliver, saddened, makes the trek (10 gardens away) to talk with his 137-year-old mother. This gentle, poignant, and humorous story presents the themes of friendship, loss, and appreciation of life’s moments from refreshingly different perspectives: narratively from Oliver’s point of view and visually from the low vantage afforded by Oliver’s stature. Both work wonderfully. The story is both heart-rending and uplifting as Oliver leads readers on a tortoise-speed journey of his quiet moments in the garden and his graceful acceptance of change. It’s also terribly funny in its memoir aspect (“A banana for dinner”) and in the speed (or lack thereof) of Oliver’s journey to see his mother. Bowers’ vibrantly colorful illustrations bring the Florida-like landscape to life with full-bleed single-page– and double-page–spread illustrations while the choice to use an illustrative perspective mainly from Oliver’s close-to-the-ground view gives readers a strong sense of being right there. An unusual and wonderful gem. (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2022 |
| The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read |
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Rita Lorraine Hubbard
Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9781524768287 As an enslaved child on an Alabama plantation, Mary Walker would look up at the birds soaring overhead and think, "That must be what it's like to be free." As a teen she was emancipated from slavery but still had to work hard all her life just to get by. At age 114, having outlived two husbands and three children, she decided to learn to read. The appended author's note says that very little is known about Walker's life during the intervening years ("I chose to imagine...details to fill in the blanks"); the generally straightforward (and unsourced) text includes invented thoughts and dialogue ("'I'm going to learn to read those words,' she vowed"). Pronounced "the nation's oldest student," Walker met presidents, flew in an airplane, and at long last "felt complete." She died in 1969 at age 121. Mora's vibrant mixed-media collages work in swirls of deep blues and greens. As Mary's life unfolds, bird motifs appear, reiterating the freedom that she discovered when she learned to read. Words are embedded throughout, enriching each scene, and on the final page we see Walker's quote: "You're never too old to learn." Photos of this inspirational woman appear on the endpapers. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Mary Walker, who learned to read at the age of 116, is introduced to young readers in this lovingly illustrated picture book.Born into slavery in Alabama, Mary Walker was not allowed to learn to read. When the Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery, she was 15. She was later gifted a Bible, which she couldn't read, but she kept it and made marks in it when her children were born. She worked hard and took care of her family and kept postponing her goal of learning to read. But she outlived her family, including a son who died at the age of 94. In 1963, she enrolled in a literacy program. "Could someone her age learn to read? She didn't know, but by God, she was going to try." By 1969 she had learned to read, been certified the nation's oldest student (twice), received the key to the city of Chattanooga, and had her birthday celebrated by the city to recognize her achievement. While the author's note mentions that some of the details that round out the text are invented, the most amazing facts of this story are the ones that are documented. Mary Walker was a living connection to a history people wanted to forget, and her indomitable spirit comes across beautifully in this book. Caldecott honoree Mora's (Thank You, Omu!, 2018) collages endear Walker to readers, each spread creating an intriguing scene of textures and layers. Enjoy this book with every child you know; let Mary Walker become a household name. (selected bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 5-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2021 |
| If I Built a School |
Chris Van Dusen
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. A young visionary describes his ideal school: "Perfectly planned and impeccably clean. / On a scale, 1 to 10, it's more like 15!"In keeping with the self-indulgently fanciful lines of If I Built a Car (2005) and If I Built a House (2012), young Jack outlines in Seussian rhyme a shiny, bright, futuristic facility in which students are swept to open-roofed classes in clear tubes, there are no tests but lots of field trips, and art, music, and science are afterthoughts next to the huge and awesome gym, playground, and lunchroom. A robot and lots of cute puppies (including one in a wheeled cart) greet students at the door, robotically made-to-order lunches range from "PB jelly to squid, lightly seared," and the library's books are all animated popups rather than the "everyday regular" sorts. There are no guards to be seen in the spacious hallwayshardly any adults at all, come to thatand the sparse coed student body features light- and dark-skinned figures in roughly equal numbers, a few with Asian features, and one in a wheelchair. Aside from the lack of restrooms, it seems an idyllic environmentat least for dog-loving children who prefer sports and play over quieter pursuits.An all-day sugar rush, putting the "fun" back into, er, education. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2020 |
| El Chupacabras by Adam Rubin |
Adam Rubin
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. The monster with a taste for goats' blood is at the center of this bilingual tale.On an isolated ranch, Carla and her dad, Hctor, wake up to an ominous sound. The next day their wide-eyed goats are trembling in a treeall but one. Carla cycles around their property until she comes upon what looks like a goat pancake. Aside from its head ("Blaaaaa!"), the goat is a boneless puddle. "EL CHUPACABRAS!" Hctor cries, with the handkerchief-munching cabra draped limply across his arms. A flower peddler offers protective magic dust, but Hctor overdoes it. After a few sneezes, the unhappy goats are taller than the distant town's churchand they have enormous appetites. The story plays fast and loose with the legend, taking place "a long time ago," even though the chupacabras reportedly first appeared in Puerto Rico in 1995. Rubin's fully bilingual text weaves English together with Spanish with no discernable pattern, often switching in the middle of a sentence, which may prove a challenge for some. McCreery's humorous illustrations (the goats are hilarious) are sometimes at odds with the text. The ranch appears to be in the desert Southwest, but Carla quickly rides her bicycle to a convenient forest. After a goat eats the bell tower, the narrative states there was no "permanent damage." The chupacabras, described as a "tiny gentleman," is a visual mix of the Grinch and a simian reptile; Carla and Hctor have brown skin and straight, black hair.Despite incongruities, Rubin's silly story and McCreery's animation-quality artwork will attract eager fans. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2019 |
| Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse Who Became a Hero |
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Patricia McCormick
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. U.S. Marines reluctantly adopt a small mare to carry ammunition in battle during the Korean War, believing she will be too weak for the job. They soon realize their mistake! Digitally colored pencil drawings capture the spirited mare and her military world in a khaki-tinted palette, while the straightforward, informative text is presented framed by various relevant documents and objects, lending the art a collagelike feel. Nicknamed Reckless, the mare has a passion for foodshe loves chocolate and Coke, regularly joins the men for scrambled eggs, and even nibbles on poker chips. But it's Reckless' hard work that truly makes her a beloved member of the team, and after learning to cope with the noise of battle, she carries ammunition to the men through shellfire and flares, saving lives and helping win a battle that changes the course of the war. The only nonhuman to be awarded military rankshe's promoted to sergeant and receives two Purple HeartsReckless is eventually brought to the States through the efforts of the soldiers who loved her. This intriguing historical tale of an underdog highlights the connection between animals and humans, provides a view of the dangers of the battlefield, and has a subtle feminist slant. A warm human (and horse) interest story that feels fresh off a newsreel. (Informational picture book. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2017 |
| Roller Girl |
Victoria Jamieson
Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780803740167 At summer roller derby boot camp, coaches, teammates, and celebrity roller Rainbow Bite cheer on twelve-year-old Astrid as she faces the challenges of derby as well as tweendom. When time comes for her big end-of-summer bout, "Asteroid" is ready to roll. Jamieson's dialogue captures coming-of-age within a subculture authentically; the graphic-novel format is used resourcefully. Have this at the ready for Telgemeier fans. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. One summer changes everything for two 12-year-old girls whose friendship is tested when their interestsand attitudesdiverge.Astrid and Nicole have been BFFs truly forever. When the girls go to the roller derby one night, Astrid is immediately hooked and jumps at the chance to attend a roller-derby camp, skating alongside the tough, dyed girls. Nicole, however, who's passionate about ballet, decides not to follow along with Astrid, creating the first real rift the girls have known. The two quickly make new friends in their new circles: Astrid with her roller-derby cohorts and Nicole with the popular ballet crowd. As Astrid navigates the rough-and-tumble sport she's fallen in love with (and the bumps and bruises that come with it), she must also deal with what happens when friends just stop being friends and grow apart. Jamieson captures this snapshot of preteen angst with a keenly decisive eye, brilliantly juxtaposing the nuances of roller derby with the twists and turns of adolescent girls' friendships. Clean, bright illustrations evince the familiar emotions and bring the pathos to life in a way that text alone could not. Fans of Raina Telgemeier or Jimmy Gownley's Amelia series should certainly skate on over to this gem. Full of charm and moxiedon't let this one roll past. (Graphic fiction. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2016 |
| When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop |
Laban Carrick Hill
Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9781596435407 Clive (Kool Herc) Campbell, the "father" of hip hop, moved from Jamaica to the Bronx with a passion for music and a dream of DJing. Hill's "hippity hop[py]" text eventually settles on an appropriate cadence. Taylor's double-page illustrations capture Herc's skilled hands at the turntables and the vitality of a burgeoning art form. A welcome addition to an underrepresented subject. Timeline, websites. Bib. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. The origin of one of the most influential cultural movements in recent times--hip-hop--is presented through the story of DJ Kool Herc, the man who "put the hip hip hop, hippity hop into the world's heartbeat." Young Clive fell in love with music as a child in Jamaica, watching a popular DJ unpack crates of records to set up for house parties. When he moved to the Bronx, Clive became Kool Herc, and when he had the opportunity to throw his own dance parties, he became DJ Kool Herc. Herc's innovative style as a DJ, stretching the breaks in songs from seconds into minutes, allowed the creativity of others to erupt, such as break dancers, rappers and MCs. Hip-hop was born. Hill and Taylor have accomplished something special with this picture book, capturing the energy of the early hip-hop movement and presenting it in a manner that is accessible for children. The rhythm and balance of text make this an engaging read-aloud for young children, while the subject matter and animated style of the full-page illustrations will appeal to independent readers as well. This effervescent celebration of the roots of hip-hop will make readers feel the beat. (author's note, timeline, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2015 |
| The Day the Crayons Quit |
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Drew Daywalt
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Duncan wants to draw, but instead of crayons, he finds a stack of letters listing the crayons' demands in this humorous tale. Red is overworked, laboring even on holidays. Gray is exhausted from coloring expansive spaces (elephants, rhinos and whales). Black wants to be considered a color-in color, and Peach? He's naked without his wrapper! This anthropomorphized lot amicably requests workplace changes in hand-lettered writing, explaining their work stoppage to a surprised Duncan. Some are tired, others underutilized, while a few want official titles. With a little creativity and a lot of color, Duncan saves the day. Jeffers delivers energetic and playful illustrations, done in pencil, paint and crayon. The drawings are loose and lively, and with few lines, he makes his characters effectively emote. Clever spreads, such as Duncan's "white cat in the snow" perfectly capture the crayons' conundrum, and photographic representations of both the letters and coloring pages offer another layer of texture, lending to the tale's overall believability. A comical, fresh look at crayons and color. (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780399255373 All Duncan wants to do is color, but the crayons have gone on strike, and they've left Duncan a pile of letters listing their grievances. As the drama unfolds, Jeffers's spare crayon illustrations pop off the white background, adding movement and momentum to the imaginative narrative. The vibrant final spread addressing each color's concerns leaves all parties with an amicable resolution. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
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| 2014 |
| Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if you Want to Survive the School Bus |
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John Grandits
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Grandits' latest is a hilarious tongue-in-cheek look at the perils of riding the school bus.Kyle is a little nervous about his first-ever bus ride. Luckily he's got his older brother James to teach him the rules. But from the moment the bus pulls up to the curb, things start to go wrong for Kyle, who manages to break seven of his brother's 10 bus rules on the morning trip to school and the remaining three on the way home. While many of the rules make good sense (never touch anyone's stuff, never mess with the bully), as Kyle learns, there are times when rules just cannot, or should not, be followed. And when Kyle survives the experience, he realizes that maybe he could give his older brother a few pointers. While the rather lengthy text and relatively sophisticated humor preclude this from soothing a new kindergartner's fears of the school bus, this is one that is sure to tickle older elementary kids and even middle schoolers who have been through it. Austin's acrylic artwork is amazingly lifelike. He is at his best when he illustrates scenes from Kyle's vivid imagination, which has a tendency toward metaphor. Kyle's every thought and feeling are manifest on the page.Worthy of being shelved next to Jon Scieszka's funniest. (Picture book. 6-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780618788224 Kyle's older brother gives him ten rules to endure the school bus ride (e.g., "Never make eye contact"). It turns out Kyle does just fine by (inadvertently) disobeying them. This spunky tale of self-reliance can be a little wordy. Austin's quasi-realistic, semi-grotesque style shows the theoretical bullies as ferocious beasts while the human characters have rubbery, blue-tinged faces. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved. Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780618788224 Kyle is nervous about his first bus ride, but his older brother claims to know the secret rules for school bus survival. Maybe Kyle is braver than big brother thinks, and perhaps the bus isn't quite so treacherous after all. Imaginative (and overly creepy) illustrations bring Kyle's anxieties to life as he pictures the riders/creatures waiting to prey on him. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
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| 2013 |
| Postcards from Camp |
Simms Taback
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. A reluctant camper gradually adjusts over the course of the summer, which is communicated entirely in postcards and letters between him and his father.After a brief prelude, the book begins with Michael's first postcard home, sent, apparently, as soon as he gets there. "Dear Dad, I HATE camp! Come get me! P-L-E-A-S-E. My counselor is an alien and a vegetarian." His father cheerfully responds to each plea with propaganda: New York City is in the throes of a heat wave; a hand-drawn postcard indicates that "97.3% of all children love camp." Postcard by postcard, though, Michael's attitude changes. He is certified as a "shark" in swim class; he goes on an awesome canoe trip; the Color War "was such fun.... Camp isn't that bad." There's one piece of correspondence per page turn, allowing readers to see both fronts and backs of postcards and letters. In the case of the letters, readers can "open" the envelopes cunningly glued to the pages and pull out the enclosed letters. Taback's signature illustrative style is perfect for this brief tale. Michael's scrawl and his father's cursive share space with collaged stamps and photographs as well as illustrations that suit the correspondents' ages.Share with kids before and after campnewbies will be astonished at how typical Michael's experience is; seasoned campers (and their parents) will laugh all the way through. (Picture book. 7-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2012 |
| The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda |
Tom Angleberger
Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780810984257 Uncertain whether or not classmate Dwight's advice-dispensing finger puppet is real, sixth grader Tommy gathers first-hand accounts of how Origami Yoda helped other kids. It's doubtful that oddball Dwight could be behind so many social triumphs, but Tommy builds an amusing case, accompanied by doodle-like illustrations, for Origami Yoda's wisdom and lets readers decide for themselves. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Sixth grader Tommy has a dilemma: He doesn't know whether to trust the advice of Origami Yoda, who dispenses wisdom from his perch on the finger of mega-nerd Dwight. Tommy compiles this case file, written by himself and other students who have benefited (or not) from Dwight/Yoda's help, in an attempt to decide. Tommy's friend Harvey, a skeptic, comments on each story, and another friend, Kellen, illustrates. Yoda counsels students on everything from American Idol outcomes to overcoming fear of softball failure to what to do when you get a little water stain on your pants in just the wrong place. Though Tommy's not forthcoming, it's pretty easy to guess what he's uncertain about, but it's never easy to guess the next twist in this kooky charmer of a Cyrano mystery tale. The arch and dry (and sometimes slapstick) humor of Angleberger's first will keep the pages turning. The stories are presented in a different typeface from Harvey's comments and Tommy's, and the whole is designed to look like a battered journal, crinkled paper and all. A skewed amalgam of Wayside Stories and Wimpy Kid that is sure to please fans of both. (Origami Yoda instructions) (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2011 |
| The Uglified Ducky |
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Willy Claflin
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Maynard Moose relates the tale of the Uglified Ducky, a moose who lost his way and found a home with a "fambly" of ducks. But the Uglified Ducky cannot waddle, fails miserably at quacking and sinks when he attempts to swim. The final straw is the flying lesson. Discouraged and sore, the Uglified Ducky strikes out on his own and finally meets some moose who set him straight. The moral of the tale? Readers are told that if they don't feel that they fit in, "that does not mean you are uglified….It just means you have not found out what you really are yet. So demember [sic], everybody is a beautiful something or other. Especially you." Claflin's tale is punctuated throughout by glossary-defined moose words and malapropisms, making it a tale just begging to be read aloud—though one Andersen would likely not recognize, either. Stimson's droll gouache illustrations perfectly match the tongue-in-cheek text, with characters that are just brimming with personality. This is one not to be missed. (audio CD) (Picture book. 3-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2010 |
| Help Me, Mr. Mutt! |
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Janet Stevens
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Joining that other epistle-toting dog LaRue (first met in Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School, 2002), self-described "Canine Counselor" Mr. Mutt fires off savvy solutions for correspondents with a string of doggy dilemmas, from enforced diets and silly costumes to humans who'd rather watch TV than play "fetch." Reminding readers (two-legged ones too, perchance) that it's entirely natural for dogs to bark, play and maybe get a little rank, and also that "it's a dog-eat-treat world," Mr. Mutt suggests coping strategies ("If your people get you in the tub, start shaking"), many of which involve some harassment of the local felines. That last draws counterfire from the Counselor's own cat and, ultimately, a brief coup—depicted in the gleefully disorderly watercolors by a view of the chubby writer tied to his own desk chair with real yarn—that muzzles Mr. Mutt until he's rescued by a charging squad of loyal fans. A host of hilarious dog portraits provide further treats. Three licks ("People call it kisses. We call it dessert.") for the Stevens sisters. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780152046286 In this witty collection of letters, Mr. Mutt, "Canine Counselor," offers helpful, hilarious advice to dogs who write about their people problems. Since his replies include disparaging remarks about cats, the resident feline (known as "The Queen") threatens to shut down his operation. Expressive mixed-media illustrations feature a haughty kitty, complete with tiara, and a comical array of beleaguered dogs. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
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| 2009 |
| One Potato, Two Potato |
Cynthia DeFelice
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. Mr. and Mrs. O'Grady live a simple—even Spartan—life. Their children are grown. They have one chair, one coat, one blanket and one candle; and they share one potato for their one meal each day. They are quite happy with each other, but both would secretly like to have a friend with whom to discuss their favorite topics. One day, Mr. O'Grady discovers a large black pot in the potato patch. The couple finds that everything dropped into it magically doubles itself. They modestly increase their standard of living. When they accidentally double themselves, they find the friends they have always wanted and are "simply beside themselves with joy." DeFelice's retelling is an easy no-frills story. It's U'Ren's smiling, care-worn yet happy, stick-thin O'Gradys that make this package worth looking into. The watercolor illustrations are at once bright and subdued. Not necessarily a mandatory purchase, but still a treat. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
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| 2005 |
| Togo |
Robert Blake
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. 9780399233814 The cover of this long picture book is a showstopper, with the entire spread showing just the face of a snowy dog with intense, pale-blue eyes, along with the single title word and the author's name. Who could resist opening it to find out who Togo is? In a dramatic story based on a real event, Blake (Fledgling, 2000, etc.) recounts the historic rescue mission undertaken in 1925 Alaska by Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog, Togo. Seppala, owner of the fastest sled-dog team in Alaska, lived in Nome during an outbreak of diphtheria, and he was asked to travel by dogsled to a town 300 miles away to pick up serum to fight the diphtheria outbreak. Togo, a brilliant, perceptive dog, successfully led Seppala's team during this mission, which was accomplished in just a few days. The dog that finished the journey, Balto, is the dog most children know, but Togo made that finish possible and the entire run inspired today's Iditarod. Blake begins with the heartwarming story of Togo's younger days, when he proved himself a worthy lead dog, followed by the dramatic, harrowing tale of the desperate rush for the serum. ("Diphtheria" and "serum" aren't defined in the text, but their meanings should be clear.) Blake's arresting oil paintings add greatly to the well-told tale, capturing the personality of the special dog. Some paintings show panoramic snow-covered vistas, others show the dogs in action, with thick white strokes of paint often representing the falling snow. A map on the endpapers enables the reader to follow the progress of the rescue mission, which they will-breathlessly. (author's note) (Picture book. 6-9) Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780399233814 This is a fictionalized account of a 1925 diphtheria serum run from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. The story focuses on Togo, the lead sled dog on one of the teams. It's due to Togo's determination and strength that his team logs the most miles in the grueling relay and ensures the delivery of the life-saving serum. The dramatic telling is enhanced by the textured oil paintings, which depict a realistic frozen landscape. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved. |
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| 2004 |
| Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy |
Phil Bildner
Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780689829130 In this fictionalized account, the success of baseball star Shoeless Joe Jackson is attributed to his famous bat, Black Betsy. The enhancements to the facts add little to what could have been an equally dramatic tale based solely on what is known about Jackson, a fascinating and controversial sports personality. The illustrations contribute both drama and emotion to the repetitive text. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved. Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. 9780689829130 Is great hitting in the clean, natural swing of the batter-or the perfectly balanced feel of the bat? As kids know when they start playing baseball, small details must converge just right to overcome the edge between winning and losing, hitting and striking out. Sometimes this translates into superstitions or quirky behavior. First-time author Bildner toes this question in the quirks of Shoeless Joe Jackson and his feared bat, Black Betsy. Joe, who played in the major leagues from 1908 to 1920, does well in the minor leagues, but can't seem to move up without the help of his South Carolina friend, the great bat-maker Charlie Ferguson. While Charlie knows how to make the best bat, it's not hard to decide which needs tweaking more, the bat or Joe's mind so he can finally realize his great potential. From Joe sleeping with the bat to his wrapping it in the cotton of his southern roots, Bildner sticks mostly to the main facts and resists a romanticization of the game. Players who know the perfect, sweeping amalgamation of hand, eye, and sweet spot might expect to hear its dramatic tenor when Joe cracks the ball with Black Betsy, but this is a story finished by statistics. Payne's (Brave Harriet, p. 944, etc.) mixed-media illustrations are gorgeous: the fuzz is in the flannel and the light is just right. And so are his perspectives, angles, and other compositional choices that make for the right mix of mystery and narrative to draw the reader in. A lengthy synopsis of Joe's entire career and his statistics are appended. (Picture book. 5-8) |
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| 2003 |
| The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring |
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Ruth Sanderson
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. 9780316769068 Sanderson has combined motifs from several Russian fairytales and illustrated them with sumptuous oils likewise full of Russian themes, splendid colors and textures, and wonderful figures that might be portraits in their verisimilitude. Alexi is looking for work?and for adventure?when he finds a golden mare with a silver mane that speaks to him, and he spares her life. The horse takes him to the Tsar, who accepts Alexi into his service but resents that the golden mare will have no other rider. When Alexi finds a bright gold feather in the forest, the mare insists it will bring him danger, but he ignores that and presents the feather to the Tsar. He, of course, wants the whole firebird, so off go Alexi and the mare to capture and cage it. The Tsar sends Alexi to fetch the beautiful Yelena, too, and she comes but doesn?t wish to marry the Tsar. Alexi once again is sent on a dangerous mission, to retrieve Yelena?s grandmother?s magic wedding ring. The ring, a bit of magic, and a Tsar who gets what he wished for but not in the way he expects bring the story to ?happy ever after? and freedom for both the golden mare and the firebird. Architecture, forest and river vistas, rich interiors, and the fabulous orange-gold firebird are brilliantly painted, and despite some strain in the plot, the story holds together well. (Picture book/folktale. 8-11) Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780316769068 In this rich mixture of story elements from several traditional Russian tales, Alexi, a young and honorable huntsman, wins the hand of Yelena the Fair and becomes the Tsar with the help of the Golden Mare and the Firebird. Sanderson's complex yet smooth text and her sumptuously elegant and atmospheric oil paintings create an entrTe into a world where realism and magic co-exist. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved. |
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| 2001 |
| Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! |
Janet Stevens
Horn Book (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 9780152019242 In a slapstick cooking lesson, Big Brown Rooster makes a strawberry shortcake with help from Turtle, Iguana, and Potbellied Pig--who look for flour in the garden and tablespoons under the table. Sidebars provide pointers and background information for would-be bakers. Digital and photographic images are seamlessly integrated into the large, elegantly composed mixed-media illustrations. Horn Rating: Superior, well above average. Reviewed by: lr, Genre: for Picture Books. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved. Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. 9780152019242 A cross between a picture book take-off of the story of the Little Red Hen and a cooking lesson on the making of strawberry shortcake. When Big Brown Rooster, great-grandson of the Little Red Hen, discovers a recipe for strawberry shortcake in her book, The Joy of Cooking Alone, he makes up his mind to be a cook. In a nod to the original tale, Dog, Cat, and Goose won't help, but Turtle, Iguana, and Pig volunteer. Panels running down the outer margins of some pages offer further information on cooking; in the meantime, the antics surrounding the baking of the cake overtake the studied connections to Little Red Hen. Though entertaining, the story is not seamless in its many functions; it ends on a flat note with a splat of the shortcake on the floor and a pep talk about teamwork. The real humor is in the hilarious illustrations, where a sketchier-than-usual style gives the book a more hurried appearance. Stevens never misses an opportunity for expressiveness in her characters; her inclusion of funny details adds more silliness to the story, from the overturned copper-pot hat on Turtle to the T-rex measuring cup. (Picture book. 4-8) |
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