Grandpa pulls up to Lucy's house early on a Saturday morning. He's got fishing on his mind. Lucy grabs her gear and they beat feet to the local river. Motoring their boat to a favorite haunt, Lucy nabs a sizeable salmon, but the fish shakes loose and Lucy returns home with an empty creel and full heart. Pope's tale is redolent of a springtime fishing jaunt, all electric and expectant. Lucy wishes she had landed the brute, wishes her picture was nailed up on the tackle shop wall, but readers will know that the real story was the chase. In his first book, Cunningham's b&w block prints chart the course of Lucy's adventure; their bold outlines and 1940s feel are a good match. At times the chunky style doesn't suit what is depicted: the swirls of mist and clouds look leaden. Otherwise, the prints vividly conjure the north woods, and Grandpa is conjured best: Kindly, unshaven, and vaguely disreputable, he's the perfect fishing companion. Mossy and transporting, this book provides an opportunity to delve into the whole hunting/fishing conundrum. (Picture book. 6- 10)
Pub Date: July 20, 1995
ISBN: 1-56792-044-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Godine
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1995
Sloat collaborates with Huffman, a Yu’pik storyteller, to infuse a traditional “origins” tale with the joy of creating. Hearing the old women of her village grumble that they have only tasteless crowberries for the fall feast’s akutaq—described as “Eskimo ice cream,” though the recipe at the end includes mixing in shredded fish and lard—young Anana carefully fashions three dolls, then sings and dances them to life. Away they bound, to cover the hills with cranberries, blueberries, and salmonberries. Sloat dresses her smiling figures in mixes of furs and brightly patterned garb, and sends them tumbling exuberantly through grassy tundra scenes as wildlife large and small gathers to look on. Despite obtrusively inserted pronunciations for Yu’pik words in the text, young readers will be captivated by the action, and by Anana’s infectious delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
At ``Step 2'' in the useful ``Step into Reading'' series: an admirably clear, well-balanced presentation that centers on wolves' habits and pack structure. Milton also addresses their endangered status, as well as their place in fantasy, folklore, and the popular imagination. Attractive realistic watercolors on almost every page. Top-notch: concise, but remarkably extensive in its coverage. A real bargain. (Nonfiction/Easy reader. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-679-91052-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
© 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.
