A quiet story that savors the historical details of a bird’s trans-Atlantic journey.
The titular 189 canaries bring their unique songs from the mountains of Germany to bustling New York harbor.
High in the Harz Mountains of Germany, canaries are bred for use in the silver mines. Their ability to detect high levels of carbon monoxide alerts miners to escape the tunnels to reach fresh air. These canaries also learn to sing beautiful melodies unlike any other in the world. This story focuses on the journey of one canary who is placed in a tiny cage, strapped onto a large rack with 188 other tiny cages, each containing a single canary. Transported by foot, cart, train, and ocean liner, the feathered protagonist finally winds up in New York, where he is purchased by a little girl. Originally published in German, this historical picture book was created with the advice and support of the Harz Roller Museum in Germany. The third-person narration has a descriptive simplicity that ties together the canary’s observations with a zoomed-out view of the voyage. The linear storytelling is full of graceful imagery, often reflected in the illustrations. Using a folk art–meets-hipster style, the illustrations lean into a rich, warm color palette. Backmatter presents a short history of canaries in captivity, information on their ability to learn songs from one another, and the ways canaries were used and transported by humans in the 19th century. While the uniqueness of Harz Roller canaries is celebrated, quality of life for birds bred for captivity is never addressed. All human characters have pale skin.
A quiet story that savors the historical details of a bird’s trans-Atlantic journey. (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5574-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
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.
bookshelf
