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THE WOMAN IN THE MOON

Name: THE WOMAN IN THE MOON
Author: Jama Kim Rattigan
ISBN: 0-316-73446-2

by Jama Kim Rattigan & illustrated by Carla Golembe ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1996

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An embellished retelling—subtitled ``A Story from Hawai'i'' and rooted in Hawaiian mythology—by Rattigan (Dumpling Soup, 1993) of how the woman goddess Hina came to live in her true home in this alternative to the man-in-the-moon concept. Hina, maker of tapa, a kind of bark cloth, is dissatisfied with her demanding husband and the amount of work required in making tapa for the entire village. She chooses to leave the place where so many things are ``kapu,'' or forbidden to women, and journeys up an icy mountain peak and to the hot sun before climbing a rainbow to the moon. The telling of the story is rambling, and even disjointed at times. An emphasis given to the making and use of tapa, skillfully woven into the story, provides insight into a little-known aspect of ancient Hawaiian culture, but doesn't work as a central plot device. As a result, the story falls short of a satisfying outcome. Both tapa-making and the setting provide attractive motifs for Golembe's primitive artwork, deliberately evoking Gaugin, and rendered in gouache with sea urchin purples and hibiscus pinks as delectable as spun sugar. (notes, glossary) (Picture book/folklore. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1996

ISBN: 0-316-73446-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1996

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
DUMPLING SOUP
by Jama Kim Rattigan & illustrated by Lillian Hsu-Flanders

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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)