Seibold’s zany re-envisioning of Lewis Carroll’s classic story is not for purists. While the text is Carroll’s, it is drastically abbreviated with nary a transition in sight; Alice’s fall down the rabbit hole ends one page while the next starts with her kicking a small animal up a chimney. Readers need to either come to the book familiar with the story or, better yet, simply sit back and enjoy a nonsense ride through Seibold’s Wonderland. Alice, the creatures that populate her adventures, and their environments hark back to cartoons of the ’50s with flat expanses of color, retro patterns, and puddle-like shadows. There are a number of pull-tabs that will intrigue young readers, including a nifty one that causes the Cheshire Cat to disappear, leaving only his grin. This is an enjoyable, though—if compared to the Sabuda (above)—ephemeral romp. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-439-41184-X
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2003
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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