McCully (Starring Mirette and Bellini, p. 559) bases this tale on a piece of history from her own hometown, Galesburg, Illinois, and one of its innovative founders, Olmsted Ferris, who experimented with unusual crops. When Olmsted learned that popcorn was unknown in Europe, he took a shipment of it to London and obtained an audience with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to demonstrate this wonder. Victoria gave Olmsted a doll for his young daughter, which was passed down through the family for generations. McCully fleshes out this historical account and tells it from the perspective of Olmsted's daughter (here called Maisie), imagining that the idea of exporting popcorn originated with her and having her accompany her father to London and to Victoria's court. The Ferrises are portrayed as energetic non-conformists, looked at askance by their staid neighbors before their trip to England, and lionized upon their return. What readers will remember is the pioneer spirit behind this appealing tale and a spunky girlreal or notat its center. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-15-277699-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1997
A rafting expedition down the Middle Fork of Idaho’s Salmon River turns suddenly deadly for the outdoorsy lad introduced in Cliff Hanger (2002). The threat of fire seems remote to Axel and his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Paul, until lightning strikes the dry timber on the heights above, and triggers a roaring fire storm. The rafters find refuge in a burned-over campsite until the storm passes, after which Axel’s aunt lectures him on how fires help forests regenerate. As in the previous adventure, Minor’s graceful depictions of wilderness and wildlife contrast sharply with the clumsily rendered human figures, and George’s dialogue often sounds stilted: “ ‘Wait,’ warned Uncle Paul. ‘It’s better to sit still in the known than plunge into the unknown. A solution will present itself.’ ” Despite the danger, and Axel’s keenly felt pleasure at being immersed in the natural world, this is unlikely to draw young readers away from their armchairs. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-06-000263-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2003
Avast! The landlocked tars of On the Go with Pirate Pete and Pirate Joe (2002) return for another hilarious set of encounters. Hopping into their minivan, the “Jolly Roger,” with pets Dudley, Studley, and Bucko, the eye-patched duo hies off to visit the Pirate Queen—“ ‘The Pirate Queen is NOT sweet,’ says Pirate Pete. ‘The Pirate Queen has stinky feet,’ says Pirate Joe. ‘Yo ho!’” The Pirate Queen turns out to be their Mom, who makes a grand entrance trailed by her stunt duck Duck-O, roars out every word in ALL CAPS, sets a fine table of crabs, eels, and jellyfish on toast, and then leads the party off to Disco Dan’s House of Pins for some rocking, rolling, and bowling. With big-print dialogue that will have new readers rolling in the scuppers, to go with high-energy illustrations festooned with pirate symbols and cartoon dingbats, this won’t be headed for Davy Jones’s locker any time soon. Yos and Hos galore. (Easy reader. 6-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-670-03679-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2004
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