bookshelf

SHAHNAMEH

Name: SHAHNAMEH
Author: Abolqaesm Ferdowsi
ISBN: 978-1-84780-253-8

THE PERSIAN BOOK OF KINGS

by Abolqaesm Ferdowsi ; retold by Elizabeth Laird ; illustrated by Shirin Adl ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2012

Although there are many stories omitted in this version, this is an excellent starting place to encounter the ancient heroes...

bookshelf

In this adaptation of the Iranian epic, finished in the 11th century by Ferdowsi, the tragic tale of Rustam and Sohrab takes center stage.

The chronology of Persian kings at the beginning is difficult to follow, with many names to master and innumerable battle scenes, but as the great hero Rustam enters the story, events begin to slow down. His exploits are described in detail. Years later, his son Sohrab, never having met his father, seeks him out on the battlefield. He is deceived by Rustam, who does not realize that Sohrab is his son. Sohrab’s death at the hands of his father, ignorant of the relationship, is emotionally engaging. Laird’s language is hyperbolic, as befits the description of mythological heroes, but it is always accessible, despite the occasional introduction of couplets reminiscent of the original poem. The illustrator uses elements of Persian miniatures in her naïve style, melding painting and collage. Handsomely produced with flowery borders on each page and intense color, the single- and double-page spreads are full of movement. Less successful are the smaller black-and-white vignettes, which are sometimes intertwined with the attractive borders. Lists of characters and museums with collections of Persian miniatures are included.

Although there are many stories omitted in this version, this is an excellent starting place to encounter the ancient heroes of Iran. (introduction) (Folklore. 9-11)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-84780-253-8

Page Count: 136

Publisher: Frances Lincoln

Review Posted Online: Aug. 28, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2012

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

bookshelf

THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES

BOX SET: BOOKS 1-12; ENHANCED EDITION

by Gertrude Chandler Warner ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

bookshelf

Separate e-book versions of the entire Boxcar Children series are or soon will be available, but this “bundle” makes an economical way to pick up the first 12. The classic (“dated” to use a more cogent term) original line-drawn illustrations have been preserved in each mystery, but the type size and style can be altered to suit, and each opens with an image of a recent color cover. The “enhanced version” adds four professionally produced, two-minute-or-shorter video clips. These feature fulsome appreciations of the books and their original author by employees and volunteers from Connecticut’s Gertrude Chandler Warner Museum, overviews of the museum and some of its memorabilia—plus a 500-or-so–word biography of Warner and 10 photos of the author, her home and the railroad station that inspired the stories. The absence of Gertrude Chandler Warner and The Boxcar Children, the 1997 biography of the author by Mary Ellen Ellsworth, represents a missed opportunity. As it is, the extra content is no more than a lagniappe but provides at least a glimpse of the series’ live-wire creator for both young readers and nostalgic adult fans. (Enhanced e-book. 9-11, adult)

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: 978-1-4532-1117-5

Page Count: 2813

Publisher: Whitman

Review Posted Online: April 9, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2011

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

bookshelf

OPERATION ROBOT STORM

From the Mythical 9th Division series , Vol. 1

by Alex Milway ; illustrated by Alex Milway ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2013

Snow joke.

bookshelf

Does the world, or at least Great Britain, need saving? Call on the hirsute heroes of the Mythical 9th Division!

Not to be confused with their bigfoot rivals of the Yankee 6th Division, three shaggy, squabbling yetis known as Albrecht, Timonen and Saar are first responders when Britain calls for rescue. This time, the sudden disappearance of Wales beneath a fast-moving glacier brings the tufted trio flying in from Tibet to face evil mastermind Balaclava, aka Dr. Icepick—who has built a gigantic weather machine atop appropriately named Mount Snowdon and is holding the entire planet hostage for a ransom of $1 trillion. Can the pilose protectors penetrate Balaclava’s icy fortress, fend off his army of laser-wielding robots and (with, perhaps, a spot of help from a Welsh mum and a crew of miners) put paid to the evil scheme? Do you doubt? With occasional breaks for labeled looks at high-tech gear or scenes presented in cinematic sequential panels, Milway (Mousehunter, 2009) crafts a lickety-split set of chases, battles, captures and escapes culminating in the villain’s (presumed) death, the device’s destruction and a lot of defrosted victims. The author notes in a postscript that there actually are eight other mythical divisions, leaving plenty of fodder for sequels.

Snow joke. (Fantasy. 9-11)