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STOP THAT PICKLE!

Name: STOP THAT PICKLE!
Author: Peter Armour
ISBN: 0-395-66375-X

by Peter Armour & illustrated by Andrew Shachat ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1993

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A witty, imaginative takeoff on ``The Gingerbread Boy'': floating in brine in a huge jar, the last pickle's already hard to corner before he scrambles out. As the truant runs down the street, other foods follow—a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich (``not the fastest sandwich in the world, but it does have great endurance''), a pretzel scattering sesame seeds, an apple, a crowd of raisins and almonds, an ice-cream cone—crying, ``Stop that pickle!'' until the pickle bumps into a boy. ``Eat him!'' shout the pursuers, but the boy has a better idea: ignoring the tearful pickle, he eats the rest of the food, and ``Who ever heard of eating a pickle after ice cream?'' Shachat's caricatures—especially of the bug-eyed pickle—are hilarious; they're set in lively, skillfully composed illustrations with sly comic touches and a surreal quality recalling Henrik Drescher's and Lane Smith's work. Sophisticated art, in a funny book with broad appeal. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1993

ISBN: 0-395-66375-X

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1993

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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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)