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MY FARM

Name: MY FARM
Author: Alison Lester
ISBN: 0-395-68193-6

by Alison Lester & illustrated by Alison Lester ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1994

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A year in the life of an Australian farm, told by one of the kids (probably the young Lester, as a note at the end of the book suggests) in a gentle, understated tone. Readers are taken through the seasonal chores, from calving to roundup. It is a particular knack of Lester's (Isabella's Bed, 1993) to insinuate lots of faithful, suggestive touches into the story: autumn leaves sent spinning behind the running horses, brushfires casting an eerie yellow light, an orphaned calf dressed in the jacket of a dead calf so as to be adopted by the mother, a perfect fairy ring of autumn mushrooms. The cadence of the text is warm and comforting, with enough breaks and shifts of direction to keep it from becoming treacly. One nice twist is the minor confusion that results from the flip-flopping of austral seasons: It's fun to get caught out when you exclaim, ``That can't be!,'' and then remember where you are. Lester's illustrations are full of detail and care, instinctively right with either a sheep slaughter or a Christmas morning. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1994

ISBN: 0-395-68193-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1994

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
NONI THE PONY COUNTS TO A MILLION
by Alison Lester ; illustrated by Alison Lester

- BOOK REVIEW
NONI THE PONY RESCUES A JOEY
by Alison Lester ; illustrated by Alison Lester

- BOOK REVIEW
SOPHIE SCOTT GOES SOUTH
by Alison Lester ; illustrated by Alison Lester

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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)