Dionetti tells ``A Story of Vincent van Gogh,'' viewing the familiar story of the painter through the eyes of his real charwoman's fictional youngest daughter, Claudine. The townspeople call him Fou Roux, the crazy redhead. He paints outdoors in the heat of the day, by candlelight at night, even in the wild wind called the mistral. Claudine observes or learns of now-famous events: Gauguin's visit, their quarrel, and van Gogh's cutting of his ear. She tries to see the world through van Gogh's eyes, finding purple in the trees and flames in their branches. Hawkes's oil paintings capture the beautiful light of southern France that ensorcelled van Gogh, and echo his visions of sunflowers, a bright table, a starry night. Children will come away with an understanding that art is a different way of seeing, that name-calling always hurts, and that kindness may be rewarded—but those messages are laid out with a hand that is occasionally heavy. (Picture book. 6-10)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-316-18602-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
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
At ``Step 2'' in the useful ``Step into Reading'' series: an admirably clear, well-balanced presentation that centers on wolves' habits and pack structure. Milton also addresses their endangered status, as well as their place in fantasy, folklore, and the popular imagination. Attractive realistic watercolors on almost every page. Top-notch: concise, but remarkably extensive in its coverage. A real bargain. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-679-91052-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
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