Manushkin (My Christmas Safari, 1993, etc.) affectionately depicts a contemporary Jewish family keeping Sabbath. The preparation begins on Thursday night when Rosy and Jake help Papa bake challah bread; the scent fills the house, ``a sweet hint of the Sabbath to come.'' Friday afternoon is for final preparations and soon all is ready for Mama to light the candles as the Sabbath officially begins. At dinner both Rosy and Jake lead in the singing of songs. Family stories are told and soon it's time for bed. The next day the entire family goes to services and spends the day in simple pleasures like visiting, taking walks, and snoozing. All too soon Sabbath is over, ``but next week there will be another.'' Chwast's illustrations show amiable figures in bold black outlines around clear-hued watercolor shapes. The book is well- designed; the art is wonderfully matched to the story's quiet mood and consistently appealing, sprinkled with amusing details. This fond introduction, full of information, effectively conveys the warms spirits of one family's weekly rituals. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-689-80274-9
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1995
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
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