The author of Stargone John (1990), a perceptive, realistic story about a misunderstood 19th-century boy, offers an old- fashioned fantasy about a king who is so greedy that he devotes himself to admiring the treasures he keeps in his solitary tower- -and about the warm-hearted tinker whose simple wisdom has the effect of reuniting the king with his daughter, the Princess Sweet Rosilla. For years, nobody has been allowed to look at King John, not even his children; only sensible Rosilla has secretly disobeyed. Then as King John is taking one of his rare forays to view his kingdom, his crown falls off when his coach hits a bump; the tinker picks it up, thinking it must be an odd sort of pot, and is soon mistaken for the king—everyone has forgotten what he looks like. Though both tell the truth, no one knows what to believe; the eldest prince receives the crown, leaving former King John to enjoy getting acquainted with Rosilla, who knows perfectly well who he is. The obvious message about true worth is nicely integrated into a competently written, briskly moving tale with engaging characters and pleasing if mild humor. It doesn't have the rich texture or marvelous humor of E. Nesbit's stories, but it could start readers in her direction. An entertaining, easily read chapter book. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 7-11)
Pub Date: March 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-8050-1773-9
Page Count: 70
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1992
Simple, bella, un regalo permenente: simple and beautiful, a gift that will stay.
Renowned Latin American writer Alvarez has created another story about cultural identity, but this time the primary character is 11-year-old Miguel Guzmán.
When Tía Lola arrives to help the family, Miguel and his hermana, Juanita, have just moved from New York City to Vermont with their recently divorced mother. The last thing Miguel wants, as he's trying to fit into a predominantly white community, is a flamboyant aunt who doesn't speak a word of English. Tía Lola, however, knows a language that defies words; she quickly charms and befriends all the neighbors. She can also cook exotic food, dance (anywhere, anytime), plan fun parties, and tell enchanting stories. Eventually, Tía Lola and the children swap English and Spanish ejercicios, but the true lesson is "mutual understanding." Peppered with Spanish words and phrases, Alvarez makes the reader as much a part of the "language" lessons as the characters. This story seamlessly weaves two culturaswhile letting each remain intact, just as Miguel is learning to do with his own life. Like all good stories, this one incorporates a lesson just subtle enough that readers will forget they're being taught, but in the end will understand themselves, and others, a little better, regardless of la lengua nativa—the mother tongue.
Simple, bella, un regalo permenente: simple and beautiful, a gift that will stay. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: March 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-375-80215-0
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Trickling, bubbling, swirling, rushing, a river flows down from its mountain beginnings, past peaceful country and bustling city on its way to the sea. Hooper (The Drop in My Drink, 1998, etc.) artfully evokes the water’s changing character as it transforms from “milky-cold / rattling-bold” to a wide, slow “sliding past mudflats / looping through marshes” to the end of its journey. Willey, best known for illustrating Geraldine McCaughrean’s spectacular folk-tale collections, contributes finely detailed scenes crafted in shimmering, intricate blues and greens, capturing mountain’s chill, the bucolic serenity of passing pastures, and a sense of mystery in the water’s shadowy depths. Though Hooper refers to “the cans and cartons / and bits of old wood” being swept along, there’s no direct conservation agenda here (for that, see Debby Atwell’s River, 1999), just appreciation for the river’s beauty and being. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: June 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7636-0792-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2000
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