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HALLELUJAH HANDEL

Name: HALLELUJAH HANDEL
Author: Douglas Cowling
ISBN: 0-439-05850-3

by Douglas Cowling & illustrated by Jason Walker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2003

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In this leadenly earnest rewrite of Cowling’s same-named audio drama, a London street child finds healing in music—specifically Handel’s music—as he’s wrested from the clutches of a villain dubbed The Keeper by two young compatriots and the composer himself. Having been hired to lug Handel’s harpsichord from boat to dock after the premiere of “Water Music,” Harry and Jack think nothing of enlisting his aid when Thomas, an orphan who sings beautifully, but does not speak, goes missing. The three track him down at last at the opera, where he’s singing arias on a dark stage, after hours. Handel carries him off to the Foundling Hospital that he had helped to found, then gives the Hospital ownership of his “Messiah” in perpetuity—at which Thomas utters his first words: “I’m home.” Walker adds pedestrian scenes of realistically drafted, but preternaturally clean streets and street people, seen in a flattering golden light. Though some parts of this have a loose association with fact, children will find a far livelier and more history-based introduction to Handel in M. T. Anderson’s Handel, Who Knew What He Liked (2001). (Picture book. 8-10)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2003

ISBN: 0-439-05850-3

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2003

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

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SAVING THE TEAM

From the Kicks series

by Alex Morgan ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2013

Wholesome? Yes. Proper hard work and teamwork values in place? Yes. Paint by numbers? Oh, yes.

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Olympic gold medalist Morgan runs down the celebrity-sports-fiction checklist in this series opener: New school? Check. New friends? Check. New boyfriend? Maybe! New soccer team? Check. Inspire said team to take on snooty archrival private school? Check.

Quickly shedding perfunctory initial reservations, Devin sails into seventh grade at Kentville Middle School, makes instant connections in class and at Kangaroos soccer tryouts. She meets requisite bully Mirabelle at the latter, then goes on to be elected team co-captain. After a disastrous start to the season, she helps her team’s members and even the less-than-rigorous coach land on the same winning page. Following a sleepover, a dance, team-building drills and exercises, pep rallies, minor problem-solving and motivational strategizing, Devin prods the Kangaroos into position to beat the haughty Pinewood Panthers in a climactic rematch while also schooling Mirabelle, who has jumped ship to join the rival team.

Wholesome? Yes. Proper hard work and teamwork values in place? Yes. Paint by numbers? Oh, yes. (soccer glossary) (Fiction. 8-10)

Pub Date: May 7, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4424-8570-9

Page Count: 176

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: March 26, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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GINGERBREAD BABY

by Jan Brett ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1999

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In a snowbound Swiss village, Matti figures it’s a good day to make a gingerbread man. He and his mother mix a batch of gingerbread and tuck it in the oven, but Matti is too impatient to wait ten minutes without peeking. When he opens the door, out pops a gingerbread baby, taunting the familiar refrain, “Catch me if you can.” The brash imp races all over the village, teasing animals and tweaking the noses of the citizenry, until there is a fair crowd on his heels intent on giving him a drubbing. Always he remains just out of reach as he races over the winterscape, beautifully rendered with elegant countryside and architectural details by Brett. All the while, Matti is busy back home, building a gingerbread house to entice the nervy cookie to safe harbor. It works, too, and Matti is able to spirit the gingerbread baby away from the mob. The mischief-maker may be a brat, but the gingerbread cookie is also the agent of good cheer, and Brett allows that spirit to run free on these pages. (Picture book. 4-8)