Keller’s (Jacob’s Tree, 1999, etc.) popular preschool character Horace returns in a sympathetic tale about impulsive childhood theft. Horace discovers a terrific orange truck on the playground and pockets it. When confronted by Walter, the truck’s owner, during class, Horace lies, telling their teacher that the truck belongs to him. Overcome with guilt but unwilling to relinquish his newfound treasure, Horace feigns an illness to stay home from school. From his classmates come a bevy of get-well notes, including a gracious one from Walter telling Horace to keep the toy until he is better. The next day Horace returns to school and voluntarily gives the truck back. Keller handles this sensitive but very common childhood issue with finesse. The continued loving affirmation of all the adults around him helps Horace to make the right choice. Some may take issue with the fact that there are no consequences for Horace beyond his own feelings of guilt, and Walter, the victim, is never given any support from their teacher. However, Horace—and the reader—learns the lesson so much better because his decision to return the truck comes from within and not because he is compelled to do so by an adult. Keller’s bright watercolors offer a varied landscape, alternately filling some pages completely and interspersed amongst the text on others. Her cheerful menagerie of animals—Horace is a leopard, Walter a tiger, and the teacher a zebra—amuse and engage as readers learn a vital lesson. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: May 31, 2000
ISBN: 0-688-17159-1
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2000
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
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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