On Level 3 of the ``Bank Street Ready-to-Read'' series, a prosaic reshaping of Pura BelprÇ's ``The Earring'' (The Tiger and the Rabbit, 1965), about a girl who, after taking off her earrings to play by the shore, is caught in a sack by an imp-like man who then earns money in the marketplace with his ``magical singing sack''; she's rescued when her song is recognized. Like BelprÇ, Jaffe gives ``Marisol's'' songs in both Spanish and English; but in simplifying the brief tale and padding it with local color, she robs it of drama and folkloric resonance: in BelprÇ, the girl's mother warns against the bathing that clearly betokens a loss of innocence; in Marisol's everyday world, her mother sends her to the beach to play, while it's hard to believe, here, that people would think the sack is magic. Nonetheless, an adequate if bland reader. Cruz's realistic illustrations are attractive, though a few of his faces verge on caricature. (Easy reader. 4-8)
Pub Date: June 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-553-09240-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Bantam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1993
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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