by David Cundy ; illustrated by David Cundy ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 6, 2016
The sentiment is true even when obscured, as here, by ostentatious graphic design.
A series of fanciful animal portraits, constructed using only the letters or signs for “Love” or “I love you” in 16 languages (or 18, depending how you count).
Style definitively trumps legibility here, whether the sentiment is expressed in English or Amharic, Thai, or American Sign Language. Even for the nine tongues that use non-Roman scripts, Cundy, a veteran typographer, chooses multiple typefaces and throws in so many swashes and dingbats that the animals are rarely recognizable and the words composing their bodies thoroughly disguised. Fortunately for readers, he identifies all of the creatures, scenarios, and languages in his accompanying narratives. Unfortunately, he also adds sometimes-daunting challenges, such as finding a tiny heart placed amid thousands of spiral ornaments on the Hebrew page or counting the hundreds of “Love letters” that make up the ornate flowers he assembles for English. Also unfortunately, his pronunciation guidelines are idiosyncratic—the umlaut in the Swedish “älskar” is rendered as a glottal stop following the pronoun “Jag,” for instance, while the short “a” in the French “L’amour” is given as is, but the same sound in the Italian “Amore” is “Ah.” Between a pretty if perfunctory world map that doubles as index and a complete tally of typefaces and ornaments, he concludes “Any way you say it, ‘I love you’ means the same thing to everyone!”
The sentiment is true even when obscured, as here, by ostentatious graphic design. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-56792-586-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Godine
Review Posted Online: Nov. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2016
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by Jacqueline Jules & illustrated by Miguel Benítez ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2010
Still hoping to find an occasion to be a superhero, Freddie Ramos finds it hard to keep the superspeed he gets from his shoes a secret in daily life. Mr. Vaslov, their inventor, gives him a wristband he hopes will control them, but instead of slowing down his shoes, it gives him a super spring. This sequel to Freddie Ramos Takes Off (2009) presumes knowledge of that title. There’s the barest minimum of explanation of the shoes or introduction of the characters. On the other hand, there’s plenty of action as Freddie twice rescues his neighbor’s ball, makes excuses to avoid running so his shoes won’t smoke and gets stuck in a tree before performing a heroic rescue. Freddie’s Hispanic heritage shows in descriptions of food and references to his deceased abuela, both worked in naturally. Cartoon art by Benítez accompanies the large-font text; the book looks accessible, although sentences do extend across page breaks. Boys who are able early readers will particularly appreciate this series; a third title is already on the way. (Fiction. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8075-9481-0
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: July 29, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2010
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by Janet Costa Bates & illustrated by Lambert Davis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2010
Extended family and friends are arriving for Clara’s Grandma’s birthday, and the air is full of Crioulo (African-influenced Portuguese) words, while the kitchen is full of Cape Verdean food reminiscent of what Grandma ate in her African homeland. Clara, who lives next door, misses her grandmother’s exclusive attention and wonders what to give her for a birthday present. Realistic, sometimes stiff acrylic illustrations portray Clara and her family and their American seaside home. When Clara and her grandmother steal some time together to go on a moonlit walk by the water, Clara learns that her grandmother left Africa and Clara’s great aunt, Aura, behind because of poverty and starvation. Grandma doubts she’ll ever make the journey back, and that night, Clara dreams of Aura and comes up with the perfect gift idea. A moving portrayal of a grandparent-grandchild relationship as well as a distinctive take on universal aspects of immigration. Includes a glossary and author’s note with information on Cape Verde and the author’s family. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 987-1-60060-347-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2010
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