bookshelf

SEYMOUR BLEU

Name: SEYMOUR BLEU
Author: Catherine Deeter
ISBN: 0-689-80137-8

by Catherine Deeter & illustrated by Catherine Deeter ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1998

bookshelf

Deeter (who illustrated Alice Walker’s Finding the Green Stone, 1991, etc.) guides readers through an exploration of the artistic process. A congenial blue cat, Seymour Bleu, faces the great white space of a new canvas; he has artist’s block, and begins a journey, touring his garden, a bookstore, museum, and other places in search of inspiration. Ultimately it is the convivial warmth of his friends that provides Seymour Bleu with the stimulus he needs. Deeter’s lush, evocative descriptions of color offer readers an artist’s view of the world, e.g., a “tangerine and amethyst rowboat glided easily through the chartreuse lily pads.” With many sly, feline-enhanced nods to the masters, Deeter’s illustrations point to several styles of art, from the examples in Seymour’s eclectic studio, to the traditional representations he finds in the bookstore and more modern works found at the art museum and sculpture garden. A color key, mixing tips, and color palette delineating warm and cool colors are provided on the endpapers. An edifying portrait of one of the ways an artist works. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1998

ISBN: 0-689-80137-8

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
LANGSTON HUGHES
by Alice Walker & illustrated by Catherine Deeter

- BOOK REVIEW
THE RETURN OF REX AND ETHEL
by Arnold Adoff & illustrated by Catherine Deeter

- BOOK REVIEW
FINDING THE GREEN STONE
by Alice Walker & illustrated by Catherine Deeter

bookshelf

A DOG NAMED SAM

by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996

bookshelf

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

bookshelf

BERRY MAGIC

by Teri Sloat & Betty Huffman & illustrated by Teri Sloat ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004

bookshelf

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)