Jonas (The 13th Clue, 1992, etc.) pens an alliterative, winning work about the letter W. The simple story features two children, William and Wilma, a big black dog, Wally, and a white duck, Wanda. All four take a walk on the beach. A sample page reads: ``Wanda waddles./ Wilma waits./ William whittles./ Wally whimpers.'' That's not the whole story, though, because the ink- and-watercolor illustrations are quite wonderful. Jonas shows a bird's-eye view of her subjects, looking right down at the tops of their heads. Their accompanying shadows provide a more conventional view of the action. Each full-bleed spread features an expanse of beach and footprints that loop and snake and scuffle all over the page. Those of the exuberant dog cover the most ground, but Wanda waddles in a tight, straight line, and the text slows with her (big spaces between the words) when Wilma tries to adjust her pace to the duck's. William and Wally are ahead until Wanda hits the water; she takes the lead while the others struggle in her wake. Text and illustrations are perfectly synchronized. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: April 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-688-14172-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1997
With a little ingenuity, a sagacious mother turns rainy-day doldrums into dynamic adventures in housework. When Little Raccoon wanders listlessly around the house plaguing his mother with pleas for something to do, she gently encourages him to make a game out of cleaning up. Humdrum chores such as putting away the laundry and setting the table become exciting when Little Raccoon masquerades as a basketball pro and pretends to be dining al fresco. From sunup to sundown, Little Raccoon is busily, happily engaged, and at bedtime, he eagerly anticipates the next day’s activities. Bridges (Am I Big or Little?, 2000, etc.) takes a common childhood complaint and attempts to show the possibilities of judicious applications of imagination. Clever, but it all comes across a bit flat: the dialogue between mother and child, for example, is somewhat stilted and lacking an easy flow. Yet the ideas are so nifty, and the illustrations so appealing, that the story still manages to be engaging. Sweet’s (Bouncing Time, 2000, etc.) full-bleed illustrations are filled with bright hues and busy details. Each spread reflects both the physical and imaginative world, with one page depicting mother and child going about their chores, while the facing page reveals Little Raccoon’s vivid imaginings. A good way to jump-start the creative juices when the ho-hum blahs loom near. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2001
ISBN: 1-58717-046-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: SeaStar/North-South
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2001
A young kitten is softly serenaded off to sleep in this cozy tale. Playful rhymes highlight a bustling day in the life of a kitten: scampering after mice, stalking through the lawn, and wreaking havoc with its insatiable curiosity. As twilight falls, the sleepy feline clambers into a favored basket and settles in for a peaceful snooze, secure in the fact that the loving narrator will watch over her. Spinelli’s (In My New Yellow Shirt, p. 746, etc.) comforting poem gently moves readers from playtime to bedtime. Her rhymes are a beguiling blend of whimsy and wonder; interspersed among wry verses that capture the frisky nature of young felines are simple lines filled with bewitching imagery. “Smile your cozy cat grin / Purr your drowsy purr / Snuggle as the bright moon / Dapples down your fur.” Mortimer’s gorgeously detailed, life-like watercolors depicting the rambunctious feline will have readers reaching out to stroke the impossibly soft-looking fur. She also adds a dash of sly humor to her illustrations. Throughout the tale, a mouse can be spotted in every spread, with sometimes just a tail or inquisitive ears visible. This game of cat and mouse concludes with the final illustration showing the two blissfully snuggled up together, fast asleep. Warm and inviting: an ideal wind-down tale for bedtime. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-7868-0458-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2001
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