A charming book biography, subtitled ``The Story of Jean- Pierre Blanchard,'' about an early aeronaut and his 1793 balloon trip across New Jersey, as he might have narrated it. His first- person account parallels events shown in one or more pictures per spread, in which characters in 18th-century dress against 18th- century backdrops cheer Blanchard on, comment on his travails, or provide additional information in speech bubbles. Most of their chatter appears in French (with minor misspellings) and German, but the phrases are simple and there's a glossary in the back. Pale colors predominate, contrasting in many scenes with the bold stripes of the balloon. In few pages and relatively few words, Wallner (Beatrix Potter, 1995, etc.) conveys plenty of information about Blanchard and his preferred means of transport. (notes, glossary) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)
Pub Date: March 15, 1996
ISBN: 0-8234-1224-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1996
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
BOOK REVIEW
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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