Tompert has done an expert job of weaving the tiny strands of fact about the life of Saint Valentine with the lovely legends that have grown around his name into a bright volume that also provides a glimpse into Roman life and Christian persecution. What is known is that Valentine was a Christian priest during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius II in the third century. Tompert recounts the legend that Valentine consoled Christians imprisoned for their faith by sending them hearts cut out of parchment; and that he performed secret wedding ceremonies for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. Sent by the emperor to live with a lieutenant instructed to convert Valentine by any means necessary, Valentine instead converted the lieutenant and his entire household to Christianity. They were all martyred for their faith, and an almond tree blossomed on Valentine’s grave on February 14th for many years. Kasparavicius’s watercolors use hieratic forms and strong lines so that they almost appear carved in stone. He uses Roman architecture and interiors softened by color washes and growing things. A lovely valentine. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2004
ISBN: 1-59078-181-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In first-person voice, Aldrin highlights points from his childhood that led to his dream of being an astronaut and making the historic moon landing. Coincidental details like his mother’s maiden name, “Moon,” and his favorite movie hero, the “Lone Ranger,” suggest clues to his destiny. After West Point, he joined the Air Force because “he wanted to fly more than anything.” Minor’s usual beautiful and realistic illustrations effectively convey spatial perspectives and movement, adding depth to the narrative. However, the cover design and type layout are confusing, indicative of a biography instead of an autobiography—a brief intro could have clarified it. Aldrin’s message in an author’s note avows, “If you set your sights high, you may accomplish more than you ever dreamed.” Pair this with Don Brown’s One Giant Step for a child’s-eye view on space exploration. (Flight/space exploration chronology) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Pub Date: June 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-06-055445-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2005
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Spinning lively invented details around skimpy historical records, Taylor profiles the 19th-century chef credited with inventing the potato chip. Crum, thought to be of mixed Native-American and African-American ancestry, was a lover of the outdoors, who turned cooking skills learned from a French hunter into a kitchen job at an upscale resort in New York state. As the story goes, he fried up the first batch of chips in a fit of pique after a diner complained that his French fries were cut too thickly. Morrison’s schoolroom, kitchen and restaurant scenes seem a little more integrated than would have been likely in the 1850s, but his sinuous figures slide through them with exaggerated elegance, adding a theatrical energy as delicious as the snack food they celebrate. The author leaves Crum presiding over a restaurant (also integrated) of his own, closes with a note separating fact from fiction and also lists her sources. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: April 1, 2006
ISBN: 1-58430-255-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2006
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