With exuberantly posed figures and colors that don’t always stay within his thick, scribbly lines, Stein captures a true sense of abandon in this celebration of the joys of play. A few big words caption each activity, as dragon-like Scaly Monster and yeti-ish Hairy Monster meet for Monster Hide and Seek (a challenge when trees, and even mountains, are too small to hide behind), using full-sized construction machinery as toys in a Monster Battle, comparing stinky Monster Breath and other games—most of which leave their tiny surroundings a shambles. In a scale-changing scene, the much larger monster parents show up at last, and before thundering off to bed the toothy buddies exchange the titular clinch. All in all, the most unrestrained Wild Rumpus since Max stirred up the Wild Things. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-399-24637-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2007
Tennis pro, Vietnam vet, and intelligence operative Brad Smith, who first served in Dropshot (1990), quits an irritating job in Texas to head for Montana, where his unusual skills are needed to open a new tennis resort and locate a murderous nearby secret agent. Well, whom else would you call to clean out the spies plaguing a mysterious Air Force lab just a backhand away from a troubled tennis camp? The debt-ridden sports resort, just bought by Smith's old tennis and spying pal Ted Treacher, provides the perfect cover for Smith—the only tennis-playing spy in America capable of recognizing his old archenemy Sylvester, the Soviet spy responsible for the death of Smith's late Yugoslavian tennis- playing wife. Sylvester, operating with a completely new face fresh from the plastic surgeon, is in Big Sky country to snatch a bit of strategic-defense technology from the research lab whose powerful secret electromagnetic pulses have been giving the local children leukemia. Also neighboring the resort is a secret toxic- waste dump owned by a beautiful but ruthless capitalist hussy who wants to close down the country club so she can get her toxic wastes back. Smith has to sort out all these secrets while cleaning up the financial and managerial mess his chum has made of what should be a fabulous destination for rich tennis players. Sylvester shoots at him, a sadistic deputy shoots at him, and Ivan Lendl shoots at him. Bodies pop out of the golf course. Credibility crushed in straight sets 6-2, 6-0, 6-1.
Pub Date: June 20, 1991
ISBN: 0-312-85143-X
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1991
The world is a perilous place, or so it seems to a small cub named Alfie. This bear’s journey to the jungle playground is filled with encounters: with a snapping crocodile, undulating python, menacing jackal, and a fearsome tiger. Fortunately for Alfie, his mother accompanies him, offering reassurance and a place to hide, all the while providing useful advice, e.g., “Let the jackal run along.” Every harrowing (at least for Alfie) event is calmly resolved as the wild creatures continue on their way and Alfie is seen in the final spread cheerfully sliding down the trunk of an elephant. Children will delight in rescuing Alfie by pulling tabs that send him into his mother’s arms or behind her back when danger approaches. Clark’s vividly hued jungle habitat offers a glimpse of a unique assortment of animals not commonly seen in board books. While Alfie perceives the various creatures as threatening, Clark carefully prevents them from appearing so to readers. It may be a wild world out there, but Alfie learns that with proper care, it’s a manageable one. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-531-30127-3
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1999
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