A winning tale involving the appealing Russian dolls that nest one within another. Caught in a snowstorm, Kata takes refuge in what proves to be Baba Yaga's house; fortunately, she has with her a little wooden doll, just given her by an old woman to whom she's been kind. The minute Baba Yaga is out of sight, ``Matreshka'' comes to life; and, while the witch conspires to turn Kata into a goose and eat her, ever-smaller Matreshkas come out, one by one, to help Kata escape: the third Matreshka climbs into the keyhole to unlock the door; the fifth, the tiniest one, whispers in Baba Yaga's ear so that she mixes up her spell and turns herself into a frog. Ayres's lively retelling is delightful, accessibly colloquial in tone and sparked with Matreshka's rhyming chants; the Bulgarian-born artist's vibrant watercolors, with the lively figures silhouetted against a white ground, are just right for group sharing. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-385-30657-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1992
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
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)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
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