A gifted storyteller (The Dancing Skeleton, 1989) presents a familiar theme—a happy relationship between grandparent and child—with unusual insight and sensitivity. The title telegraphs the humor in Grandpa's stories, which begin ``When I was a little girl.'' (That was before he kissed his elbow.) While cutting Maggie's hair, he tells her about a pixie under the porch who often makes ``something magic'' happen. Maggie isn't sure whether to believe this, but her offerings of cookies and other small treats do disappear, and something special often does happen when she's with Grandpa: he teaches her to tickle trout; a hailstorm leaves enough ice to make a summer snowball; best of all, a wren makes a nest of the clippings from her hair; and after the nestlings fly away, Maggie takes the nest home. Swanson's misty color-pencil illustrations nicely reflect the story's quiet mood and Maggie's sense of wonder at the ``magical'' occurrences she and Grandpa share. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 31, 1992
ISBN: 0-02-726455-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1992
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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