by Dee Lillegard & illustrated by Kevin Hawkes ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 13, 1998
If, as defined by the author, to poombah is to infuse something with extraordinary energy, then consider Lillegard (Tortoise Brings the Mail, 1997, etc.) endowed with such powers. When the Poombah of Badoombah works his magic in an Indian marketplace, pots leap from the clay, carpets fly from the loom, the drummer’s mridanga booms, and the spices zoom. With one ultimate stroke of silliness, the turbanned, bespectacled Poombah topples a nabob from his howdah atop an elephant, for which he’s run out of town. What’s a Poombah to do, banished to the countryside? Grow Badoombah beans, of course, which contain all the magic one needs for a one-man hullabaloo. Lillegard’s fantasy is full of beans in the best sense; she works wonders with wordplay and internal rhyme, sending “a pudgy rajah swirling to the public bath” and “a nervous dervish whirling down a curvish path.” Extending the merrymaking is Hawkes, stepping in with his penchant for exaggeration: Pop-eyed people and animals are sent flying, tapestries soar, and jugs sail, until hens land on heads and watermelons become hats. The timing of the ending is ideal, cutting short the giddiness with the turn of the page, and leaving readers wishing for another visit to Badoombah. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 13, 1998
ISBN: 0-399-22778-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1998
Share your opinion of this book
More by Dee Lillegard
BOOK REVIEW
by Dee Lillegard & illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
BOOK REVIEW
by Dee Lillegard & illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev
BOOK REVIEW
by Dee Lillegard & illustrated by Susan Guevara
by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996
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
Share your opinion of this book
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Google Rating
New York Times Bestseller
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Natalie Russell ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2017
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Google Rating
New York Times Bestseller
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Share your opinion of this book
More by Kobi Yamada
BOOK REVIEW
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Adelina Lirius
BOOK REVIEW
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Charles Santoso
BOOK REVIEW
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Elise Hurst
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.