While they wait for Uncle Angelo at the Liberty Diner, Bobby, his baby brother, George, and his mother are surprised when President Roosevelt stops in during breakfast. Kirk (Trash Trucks!, p. 723, etc.) captures the happy chaos of a restaurant packed with diners, reporters, and a busy staff: Marge the waitress barks out orders as customers come and go. In the midst of all this, Bobby orders ``wrecked cackles'' for breakfast, only to discover he's getting scrambled eggs, which he hates. He starts to pout, but everything is interrupted by the arrival of the president. A reporter thrusts George into the president's arms for a picture, but Roosevelt pulls Bobby into the picture, too. Kirk barely dabbles in the range of colorful diner vernacular and, through the presidential visit, prevents readers from understanding just how exciting an ordinary day at the diner is. Expressive, eye-catching illustrations tell the tale better than the wordy text; filled with bustling, sipping, munching, smiling people, the scenes at the Liberty Diner come alive. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-7868-0303-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1997
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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