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THROW YOUR TOOTH ON THE ROOF

Name: THROW YOUR TOOTH ON THE ROOF
Author: Selby B. Beeler
ISBN: 0-395-89108-6

TOOTH TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

by Selby B. Beeler & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1998

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The demands on the tooth fairy are almost as strenuous as those on Santa, but she has some help, because, as Beeler tells it, the customs about teeth vary around the world. In Spain, a mouse spirits molars away, while in Korea the tooth gets tossed up on the roof. An author’s note explains how Beeler canvased friends and strangers for their tooth traditions, many of which are similar; there’s no attempt to root out the anthropological origins of any of the customs, which makes this a better browsing book than a resource for reports. Karas’s illustrations, including his map, are deliberately lighthearted and make people the world over look uniformly friendly. A charming debut. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1998

ISBN: 0-395-89108-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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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)