The story of a divide that cannot be bridged will leave readers with much to ponder.
In this modern interpretation of a traditional Inuit story, a fox marries a human.
One day a beautiful red fox falls from the sky. Catching sight of an Inuit family, she is fascinated. When the older son, Irniq, spots her, she flees but follows them, out of sight. Years pass, and Irniq grows into a man. He decides to set out on his own. His mother worries, but his father reassures her that their son is capable of surviving the rugged terrain. Now Irniq has his own sealskin tent, and after a long day hunting, he must do the chores alone. But there is a surprise when he arrives back at his camp. Who has lit the oil lamp and prepared his fish? This tale of a supernatural fox who hangs up her skin to become an Inuit man’s wife will sadden readers who hope to find unconditional love at the heart of the story. Instead, the book teaches an important lesson about judging our loved ones. With illustrations extending across double-page spreads, the tundra feels as if it is expanding beyond the corners of the book. The northern lights bounce off the horizon to enhance the mystery of this world, inviting readers to imagine a distant place and time when animals could become human.
The story of a divide that cannot be bridged will leave readers with much to ponder. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-77227-212-3
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Inhabit Media
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
A rendition more poignant than patriotic with, at least in the rhymed portions, the cadence of a lullaby.
An illustrated version of the ever popular Scottish “Skye Boat Song,” with added lyrics and historical background.
Written in the 19th century (and set to a folk melody), the verses commemorate the flight of Bonnie Prince Charlie, then in his mid-20s, from the 1746 battle of Culloden. They begin after a prose introduction that sets the scene and follows the fugitive until—disguised (according to legend) as resourceful cottager Flora MacDonald’s maidservant—he escapes in a boat to the Isle of Skye. Along with a closing note, the anonymous modern co-author also adds a near ambush by British troops to the storyline in the lyrics and tones down the martial closing lines to a milder “Rightfully king! True hearts will stay / Faithful for evermore!” There is no visible blood or explicit violence in Belli’s depictions of the battle and its aftermath, but in the clean-lined watercolor scenes he fashions evocatively rough seas and stormy skies until landfall brings a final calm. The British soldiers’ red coats and the bright tartans in which the handsome, downcast prince and other male Scots in the all-white cast are outfitted shine against the muted backgrounds.
A rendition more poignant than patriotic with, at least in the rhymed portions, the cadence of a lullaby. (map) (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-78250-367-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Floris
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
A handsome and satisfying companion to Market Maze (2015).
Looking for a fresh and inviting introduction to academic painting genres such as still life, portrait, or landscape? Why not bring readers inside an artist’s studio (perhaps author/illustrator Munro’s own?) and actually show them the process?
Munro begins with preparations to paint: stretching and gessoing canvas, selecting the right tubes of colors, choosing brushes, palette knives, and solvents, setting up a palette for painting, and so on. It’s lots of work…but the really hard part about painting is deciding just what to paint. In demonstrating her decision-making process, Munro uses 37 iconic and inspiring examples of fine art, each illustrating a genre for consideration, all drawn from the open-access collection of the National Gallery of Art and all representing an energizing variety of European and American artists, eras, media, and styles. She cleverly brings all these images together in a detailed, ambitious, culminating ink-and-acrylic cityscape. This signature image of an art-bedecked, lively metropolis also works as an art scavenger hunt. As readers discover the art embedded in a landscape, they can refer to the smart, concise, marvelously amplifying backmatter.
A handsome and satisfying companion to Market Maze (2015). (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3699-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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