The poignant story of a black South African gogo, or grandmother, who, after generations of struggle, votes in the historic democratic elections of 1994. Gogo shocks her granddaughter, who narrates, as well as the rest of the family when she expresses her wish to vote; exiled by the indignities of apartheid and the infirmities of old age (``Mandela is a young man compared to me!''), she hasn't left the house for years. The community rallies around her, and a local businessman sends his car and driver to take her to the polling station. The crowds applaud as she casts her ballot; once home, the narrator joins in the celebratory toyi-toyi (rhythmic dancing) that continues far into the night. Sisulu works information on voting into the narrative without overwhelming the fundamental story; through Gogo's determination, even readers who are unfamiliar with all the facts of South African apartheid will comprehend the significance of this historic event. Rich pastel illustrations illuminate the text, depicting with equal skill the landscapes of the country and the affection between a gogo and her granddaughter. An uplifting book. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-316-70267-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1996
Thermes introduces a contemporary of Virginia Lee Burton’s Little House (1942) in this perspicuous, low-key debut. Alternating “then” with “now,” an old farmhouse contrasts its isolated first years and family with the helter-skelter present ones. The differences are many: the plumbing has moved indoors; food comes from stores or restaurants; “quiet evenings together, talking or reading or telling stories” have given way to “television sets that light up the night with noise and chatter.” But not everything has changed: people then as now make an effort to recycle what they have, and children “gaze out my windows and wonder about what changes the future would bring.” Glowing scenes of cheery-faced figures drawn with a fine pen and bright, lightly applied colors lighten the house’s mildly grumpy tone, and the different paces of past and present are contrasted in ways more soothing than jarring. A charming way to introduce readers to the days before cell phones, shopping malls, and air travel. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-8050-6532-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
With a minimum of words, Kay (Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails, 2000, etc.) uses lyrical poetry to tell the story of the journey of a Pilgrim family to the New World through the eyes of its three children. From the reasons they left and the items they packed, to the ocean voyage and the life they made in America, all are detailed in the author’s spare four-lined rhymes. The rhythm of the poetry lends itself to either a rocking beat, or a more energetic pace—a blend perfect for read-alouds. The gentle verses—“One room cabin, / Rush beds, soft. / Greased cloth windows, / Ladder, loft”—are balanced by the more frenzied: “Storm clouds gather, / Driving rain. / High winds howling, / HURRICANE!” Where the author uses a few well-chosen words, the illustrator details what the author cannot say. Andreasen’s (The Stars That Shine, 2000, etc.) lovely paintings are a gorgeous palette of soft tones and swirling color. He accurately portrays the difficulties the Pilgrims faced on their journey, and shows in their facial expressions the hopes, fears, and excitement they felt. A magical combination of poetry, history, and art. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-399-23345-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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