Readers who enjoyed Peck’s Ulaq and the Northern Lights (1998) will also enjoy this tale in which animals of the desert southwest discover Native American petroglyphs on the walls of a cave and recognize pictures of their own ancestors in the rock art. Coyote, who futilely chases Jackrabbit, falls asleep and dreams about animals, hunters, and a mysterious flute player of long ago. The southwestern-inspired border designs, the animals, and the red rock landscapes are colorfully executed in batik. Although the story is slight, and the notion of animals building a fire and gathering around it to keep warm seems a bit odd, anyone who has ever encountered rock art and wondered what it means, or who has sensed spirits of the past in special places, will identify with the animals’ experience. There may be some concern that the spiritual significance of the petroglyphs, which are sacred to many of today’s pueblo people, has been treated too lightly, but overall this is a pleasant, if somewhat facile, introduction for young readers to southwestern animals, landscapes, and rock art. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2000
ISBN: 0-374-36648-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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
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