by Wolf Erlbruch & illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch & translated by Michael Reynolds ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2005
A Bologna Book Fair prizewinner, this deceptively simple import offers one-line answers of widely varying scope to the implied question, Why am I here on Earth? Erlbruch never waxes portentous: For a bird, it’s, “To sing your song”; to a cross-eyed dog, it’s to bark; for a cat, “to purr”; in a pilot’s view, it’s to “kiss the clouds.” Death, portrayed as a nearly abstract figure in a spotted clown suit, answers, “You are here to love life,” and for a powerful boxer, it’s, “To step into the ring.” But even the soldier (“You are here to obey”) and a corpulent man (“To eat well”) are depicted with a light touch, and a duck responds, “I don’t have the foggiest idea.” Illustrated in crayon-and-paper collage on plain, cream colored backgrounds, this ends on a cozy note from Mommy (“You’re here because I love you”), offers more open-ended answers than the likes of Shel Silverstein’s Giving Tree (1964) and is certain to leave even younger readers in a reflective mood. (Picture book. 6-10)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2005
ISBN: 1-933372-03-6
Page Count: 52
Publisher: Europa Editions
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2005
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by Edward van de Vendel ; illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch ; translated by David Colmer
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by Oren Lavie ; illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch
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by Heinz Janisch ; illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch ; translated by Sally-Ann Spencer
by Joyce Milton & illustrated by Larry Schwinger ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1992
At ``Step 2'' in the useful ``Step into Reading'' series: an admirably clear, well-balanced presentation that centers on wolves' habits and pack structure. Milton also addresses their endangered status, as well as their place in fantasy, folklore, and the popular imagination. Attractive realistic watercolors on almost every page. Top-notch: concise, but remarkably extensive in its coverage. A real bargain. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-679-91052-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992
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by Joyce Milton ; illustrated by Franco Tempesta
by Meredith Hooper & illustrated by Bee Willey ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2000
Trickling, bubbling, swirling, rushing, a river flows down from its mountain beginnings, past peaceful country and bustling city on its way to the sea. Hooper (The Drop in My Drink, 1998, etc.) artfully evokes the water’s changing character as it transforms from “milky-cold / rattling-bold” to a wide, slow “sliding past mudflats / looping through marshes” to the end of its journey. Willey, best known for illustrating Geraldine McCaughrean’s spectacular folk-tale collections, contributes finely detailed scenes crafted in shimmering, intricate blues and greens, capturing mountain’s chill, the bucolic serenity of passing pastures, and a sense of mystery in the water’s shadowy depths. Though Hooper refers to “the cans and cartons / and bits of old wood” being swept along, there’s no direct conservation agenda here (for that, see Debby Atwell’s River, 1999), just appreciation for the river’s beauty and being. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: June 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7636-0792-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2000
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by Meredith Hooper & illustrated by Stephen Biesty
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