The author of The Mousehole Cat (1990, ALA Notable) brings unusual drama to a familiar event. When one of Gemma's hens goes ``broody,'' she and her mother put her in a special coop. Three weeks later, seven eggs hatch; the other three are cold, but when Gemma's mother floats them in warm water, one moves, then cheeps. Assuring Gemma that it will hatch by morning, her mother says, ``I'll wake you when the time comes.'' So she does, and Gemma holds the egg in her hand while the gawky chick make its way into the world; then—while it's still dark—the girl carries it to the barn right away, so that the hen will accept it as her own. Standard details, and more, are all here; tenderly, but without sentimentality, Barber depicts the hen's behavior and the humans' with equal insight. Applying watercolors with free strokes against an expansive white ground, Ö la Chinese painting, Littlewood (a British illustrator making her US debut) deftly captures the lively essence of the plump black-and-white hens and Gemma's companionable relationship with her mother. A fresh, imaginatively conceived look at a well-worn subject. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-590-45479-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1993
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
Sloat collaborates with Huffman, a Yu’pik storyteller, to infuse a traditional “origins” tale with the joy of creating. Hearing the old women of her village grumble that they have only tasteless crowberries for the fall feast’s akutaq—described as “Eskimo ice cream,” though the recipe at the end includes mixing in shredded fish and lard—young Anana carefully fashions three dolls, then sings and dances them to life. Away they bound, to cover the hills with cranberries, blueberries, and salmonberries. Sloat dresses her smiling figures in mixes of furs and brightly patterned garb, and sends them tumbling exuberantly through grassy tundra scenes as wildlife large and small gathers to look on. Despite obtrusively inserted pronunciations for Yu’pik words in the text, young readers will be captivated by the action, and by Anana’s infectious delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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