An anniversary gift to his adopted country, Caldecott-winner Spier's pictorial representation of the aims set forth in the Constitution's preamble is a celebration of America's diversity. Four close-packed pages of text summarize the history of the document's composition and adoption; portraits of the signers and the Constitution's text appear in conclusion. But what distinguishes this oversize picture book from the many other books being published on the subject this year is Spier's dozens of vignettes, comparing past with present: blacksmith with auto mechanic, carpenter constructing a post-and-beam building with workers on modern steel girders, ballot boxes with voting machines, etc. At first it seems that the pictures will correspond one to one; but in fact the present day receives more than two thirds of the illustrations, emphasizing its greater range and complexity. Captions are few, beginning with the many agencies that help "promote the general Welfare"; though this looks like a picture book, it will serve best as a visual confirmation and elaboration of concepts already understood. Spier conveys precisely the sense of the Preamble's compact statement by his selection and arrangement of subjects, even as he conveys the essence of each subject in his deft miniatures. A book to pore over for its engaging detail or to use as an educational conversation piece.
Pub Date: Sept. 4, 1987
ISBN: 0385419031
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1987
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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