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DAFFY DOWN DILLIES

Name: DAFFY DOWN DILLIES
Author: Edward Lear
ISBN: 1-56397-007-4

SILLY LIMERICKS

by Edward Lear & illustrated by John O’Brien ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 20, 1992

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A frequent contributor to The New Yorker selects 37 of his favorite limericks and illustrates them with witty, detailed pen drawings; O'Brien's odd characters and their calm acceptance of the ridiculous situations described in the verses are much in the spirit of Lear's own simpler, but notably adroit, sketches. The better to attract modern readers, O'Brien adds watercolor in gently glowing colors and sometimes combines several limericks in a single comically imaginative spread—e.g., the old man with a beard full of birds is one of three characters up the same whimsical tree, and another amusing trio is caught at sea—one with a boat that's not afloat, another on a goose, and the third, ``who placidly sat on a post...and called for some hot buttered toast.'' An unusually felicitous introduction to this well-loved, zany humorist. (Poetry/Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Feb. 20, 1992

ISBN: 1-56397-007-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Boyds Mills

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1992

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
NONSENSE!
by Edward Lear ; illustrated by Etienne Delessert

- BOOK REVIEW
THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT
by Edward Lear ; illustrated by Charlotte Voake

- BOOK REVIEW
THE COURTSHIP OF THE YONGHY-BONGHY BÒ
by Edward Lear & illustrated by Sam Tannen & developed by Corky Portwine

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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)