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CADILLAC

Name: CADILLAC
Author: Charles Temple
ISBN: 0-399-22654-0

by Charles Temple & illustrated by Lynne Lockhart ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 17, 1995

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``Better jump for your life, and never look back'' when Granny—reckless, oblivious, failing in her faculties, or all three—gets behind the wheel of her pink Cadillac. This grandmother burns up the road with total disregard for everyone, including her narrator/granddaughter, scrunched down and praying in the back seat. Granny doesn't think twice about blocking a busy street or running red lights; when she sees a young policeman writing out a ticket for her, she assumes it's a sweet note, kisses him, and drives off. The saucy watercolors, warmly painted, contribute to the broad humor of the rhyming story, which might have been merely comic in another era. These days, a child cowering in the car and relieved to make it home alive feels a little too real—readers won't laugh with her, they'll want to rescue her. Disquieting. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 17, 1995

ISBN: 0-399-22654-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1995

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
TRAIN
by Charles Temple & illustrated by Larry Johnson

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A DOG NAMED SAM

by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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BERRY MAGIC

by Teri Sloat & Betty Huffman & illustrated by Teri Sloat ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004

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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)