by Gladys Barbieri illustrated by Lina Safar ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2013
A bilingual kid’s book that’s an all-around winner.
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Award-winning author Barbieri (Rubber Shoes/Los zapatos de goma, 2011) returns with another charming bilingual picture book.
It’s Career Day at Gladys Elizabeth’s school, and the teacher asks the students to draw pictures of what they want to be when they grow up. No sooner has Gladys finished her drawing—of a pink fire truck—than her classmate Rudy shouts, “Gladys, you can’t be a fireman! Get it? Fireman, not firegirl.” Unperturbed, the spunky heroine fires back, “I can be whatever I want to be.” The debate continues during recess, and other girls join in; one goes so far as to shout, “I’m going to be the first girl president of the United States of America!” A few days later, the class goes on a field trip to a local fire station, and who should welcome them at the door but Capt. Beth? Now it’s Gladys’ turn to gloat, but Rudy still isn’t convinced. Later that afternoon, however, he falls off his bike in front of Gladys’ house and begins to cry; she comes to his rescue, paramedic kit in hand. Rudy sheepishly admits that it may not be such a bad idea for a girl to be a firefighter—but not before he makes Gladys promise not to tell anyone that she saw him cry. First-grade teacher Barbieri certainly knows how to inspire kids, and, just as importantly, she knows the little stinkers that children can sometimes be; she isn’t afraid to portray them realistically, in both English and Spanish prose, and this realism gives the story its particular charm. One minor quibble: The book occasionally uses Spanish regionalisms (such as “nos tentamos tanto de risa”) that may not be familiar to all Spanish speakers. However, its message is dead-on, and Safar’s colorful, anime-style illustrations only add to this engaging tale.
A bilingual kid’s book that’s an all-around winner.Pub Date: May 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-1601311450
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Castlebridge Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Pete Seeger & Paul Dubois Jacobs & illustrated by Michael Hays ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2001
The seemingly ageless Seeger brings back his renowned giant for another go in a tuneful tale that, like the art, is a bit sketchy, but chockful of worthy messages. Faced with yearly floods and droughts since they’ve cut down all their trees, the townsfolk decide to build a dam—but the project is stymied by a boulder that is too huge to move. Call on Abiyoyo, suggests the granddaughter of the man with the magic wand, then just “Zoop Zoop” him away again. But the rock that Abiyoyo obligingly flings aside smashes the wand. How to avoid Abiyoyo’s destruction now? Sing the monster to sleep, then make it a peaceful, tree-planting member of the community, of course. Seeger sums it up in a postscript: “every community must learn to manage its giants.” Hays, who illustrated the original (1986), creates colorful, if unfinished-looking, scenes featuring a notably multicultural human cast and a towering Cubist fantasy of a giant. The song, based on a Xhosa lullaby, still has that hard-to-resist sing-along potential, and the themes of waging peace, collective action, and the benefits of sound ecological practices are presented in ways that children will both appreciate and enjoy. (Picture book. 5-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-689-83271-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2001
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by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
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