PROFESSOR FERGUS FAHRENHEIT AND HIS WONDERFUL WEATHER MACHINE

Name: PROFESSOR FERGUS FAHRENHEIT AND HIS WONDERFUL WEATHER MACHINE
Author: Candace Groth-Fleming
ISBN: 0-671-87047-5

by Candace Groth-Fleming & illustrated by Don Weller ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1994

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Dry Gulch is whistling for rain, but heaven isn't listening. A town meeting called to address the crisis is flummoxed until Fergus Fahrenheit walks through the door. Rain is his mÇtier, and, as an employee of the Wonder-Worker Weather Co., he is happy to take their order. Challenged by the skeptical mayor, Fergus demonstrates his gift, first with a gentle rain, then a thundershower, then a certified deluge. The town strikes a deal with the rainmaker then and there, signing on the bottom line. Weller's illustrations soup things up with their Ralph Steadman splatterings, faces modeled after Easter Island statuary, and exuberant color (sometimes too exuberant—the text depicts Fergus as black from head to toe, but Weller can't resist a cuff of turquoise). How this story squares with the rainmaking fakeries of the early 1900s—despite the many wonderful concurrences—is left to the author's note. But, as a quest for surcease from life's travails, this story is a sweet and easy ride. (Picture book. 4- 8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1994

ISBN: 0-671-87047-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1994

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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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)