Montresor, best known for his Caldecott-winning May I Bring a Friend (1965), uses silhouetted figures set against backdrops of vividly colored cut-paper collages in this retelling of a classic. In keeping with the story, the art is childlike yet bold and dramatic. Would that the text were rendered so well. For the most part, the narrative is flat and the story almost unrecognizable. The children get lost while picking strawberries, fall asleep and dream of angels, and wake to find a castle where at least they meet the witch from the original version. Granted, this is a scary tale, but even though Montresor’s version is geared toward the younger set, some details of the plot—along with the accompanying art—have the potential to frighten the smallest readers and listeners. So while there is a big, bright, smiling sun at the end—which looks as if it could have been drawn by a small child—there are also devils and menacing-looking witches and lots of flames issuing from a large vat. Not the best version of this story that ever was, it should be considered supplemental for large library collections and only where yet another retelling is desired. (Folklore. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-689-84144-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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