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WATER'S WAY

Name: WATER'S WAY
Author: Lisa Westberg Peters
ISBN: 1-55970-062-9

by Lisa Westberg Peters & illustrated by Ted Rand ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 3, 1991

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Parallel narratives follow water's path in nature (mist rising to clouds to rain to puddles) and, in smaller inset illustrations, indoors (soup-pot steam condenses on and runs down a window). A second, less clear sequence compares the smell of bathtub soap to the smell of the sea, but the neatly rounded conclusion—frost on the window, snow outside, the child observer finally going out to play—is satisfying. Rand's attractive watercolors are a fine complement to the ideas suggested in the text. An excellent concept book. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 3, 1991

ISBN: 1-55970-062-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Arcade

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1991

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
PUSH-PULL MORNING
by Lisa Westberg Peters ; illustrated by Serge Bloch

- BOOK REVIEW
WE ARE A GARDEN
by Lisa Westberg Peters ; illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov

- BOOK REVIEW
VOLCANO WAKES UP!
by Lisa Westberg Peters & illustrated by Steve Jenkins

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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)