Miss Lotta Scales, the new librarian at Sunrise Elementary, is a real dragon, literally and figuratively. She won't lend out books, won't even let the children touch them for that matter. The very thought of their sticky fingers desecrating her books makes her flare. She even has the gall to incinerate books that defame dragons. Not surprisingly, the kids come to hate library day. Then Molly Brickmeyer rolls into the library in search of her glasses. Nearsighted to a fault, Molly bumps into a bookshelf, a book pops into her lap, and she commences to read aloud. Rumors of a storytime—a practice forbidden by Miss Scales—spread through the school like prairie fire. Even Miss Scales is mesmerized by Molly's reading, transformed even, into sweet Miss Lotty, librarian and storyteller. Deedy (Agatha's Feather Bed, 1991) has a chance to handle some issues both large and small, from censorship to book burning to terminal crotchetiness. Unfortunately, they are left here to dangle without being faced four-square. Entertaining nevertheless, with snappy confections from newcomer White. (Fiction/Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1994
ISBN: 1-56145-091-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1994
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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