Choldenko's first book gives the lowdown on the cow who was heralded in the headlines of her time—e.g.,``Flying Bovine'' and ``Cow Shaped UFO Reported.'' The whole story of the famous flight comes straight from the horse's mouth—that is, the horse who coached her. He thinks the cow got the shaft in Mother Goose's record: ``One lousy line—not even a whole poem,'' says he, before telling it like it was: The cow kept hanging around the equine moon-jumping hopefuls, wormed her way in and started using their equipment, showed up for every practice, and kept her sights fixed firmly on the moon. She made the team—her name, Miss Cow, posted on the shortlist with the likes of Loco Motive and Trotting Travis. This very funny story sends up TV sports profiles; the horse's tough, gravelly voice puts a fine spin on this bovine interest piece as he focuses on the impossible odds, lofty dreams, and fierce dedication of the upstart athlete, finishing with a spirited play-by-play of the legendary jump. Yalowitz's colored pencil illustrations take the story and fly with it. Full of humorous details (the headlines, the lonely competitor awaiting practice time, the cow's crescent moon tattoo), the scenes capture the mood perfectly, especially the close-up of the cow blasting off and the aerial view with Earth far below. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-7868-0158-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1997
Ginny loves reading circle, but getting there is a bit of a challenge because only half the chairs are real. Figuring out which words to read is tough, too. See, “Ginny’s eyes [play] tricks”—she’s got double vision and doesn’t realize that’s unusual. “We read it just once,” says her teacher, and, “Don’t squint.” Lyon’s simple, declarative text effortlessly puts readers into Ginny’s head, and Avril’s whimsical mixed-media illustrations give them her eyes, overlaying one image slightly off its original in a satisfyingly disorienting fashion. A vision test at school is revelatory: “Do you know,” the nurse asks gently, “that most people see only one?” This small episode, taken from the author’s own experience, is much more than bibliotherapy, even though it covers Ginny’s remedial eye patch (hence the title). In single or double vision, Ginny simply glows. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: June 22, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5024-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Richard Jackson/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2010
A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land.
A magical intergenerational story of gifts and cultural rituals shared between a grandmother and her granddaughter.
A Tlingit grandmother takes her young granddaughter to a nearby island for a berry-picking adventure in the forest. To alert the forest bear and the various types of berries that glow “like little jewels” of their presence, the pair sing a harvest song: “Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry.” Grandma teaches the girl that “we speak to the land…as the land speaks to us,” and “we sing too, so the land knows we are grateful.” As they gather berries in the misty rain, they listen to the sounds of insect wings, inhale the sweet scent of cedar, and feel the soft moss on tree branches. Back at home, “the kitchen glows like a summer sky” as the girl, her grandmother, her father, and her younger sister make syrup, marmalade, jelly, jam, pie, and scones to share. When winter comes, the forest is described as “dreaming, waiting for berry song.” Seasons change, marking the passage of time and leading to a bittersweet, full-circle ending. This beautifully written story by Caldecott medalist/debut author Goade features breathtaking, atmospheric artwork inspired by the wild landscape of her hometown, Sheet’ká, Alaska, and incorporates rich symbolism and imagery from Tlingit culture. A closing author’s note elucidates sacred Tlingit principles mentioned in the story, and dazzling endpapers identify different berry varieties. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 14, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-49417-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
© Copyright 2025 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.
