“I Spy” aficionados will devour this artful search-and-find. Fifteen stirring folk-art–style paintings pay homage to daily life as observers search for more than 150 images within them. Classic Americana scenes depict rolling hills and quaint villages; over the course of one year, families ice skate during snowfall and enjoy summer by the sea. Thin lines add depth through feathered landscapes while clean strokes maintain natural symmetry. Succinct titles introduce each piece; Raffin’s conversational tone encourages interaction: “Can you find… eight cycles on the town path, an ice-cream cone (all alone)…?” The “teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy, ditzy Mitzi,” a little black-and-white dog, provides unity throughout, appearing in each spread. Text boxes are contained within thin borders against solid colored backgrounds, antique-looking display types coordinating with the folk-art style. Cool colors blend into golden tones and back as seasons shift. Pages combine the usual and unique: “Chilly Noses” depicts the crowded veterinarian’s office with an array of patients, including cat, bird and dogs as well as a snake, a skunk and a banana-carrying chimp. Playful fun. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8109-8004-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2009
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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