The Billy-Goats-Gruff, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and more of the usual suspects play out their tales on some of Great Britain's historic sites and estates: Stowe, the Giant's Causeway, Kedleston in Derby, the ``Bear's Hut'' on the grounds of Killeston, the garden tower at Cornwall's Trelissick, and Chirk Castle. Penney (Ian Penney's Book of Nursery Rhymes, 1994, not reviewed, etc.) has done plenty of adapting—Rapunzel's tale begins in the tower, and Hansel and Gretel only lock the witch in her cellar until she promises to mend her ways, then settle in with her and their woodcutter father in the scrumptious home—but the tales are comfortably familiar, with all but two of the eight tied to recognizable, theoretically visitable places. Viewers will linger over Penney's tiny, finely brushed architectural details and flora and fauna (not to mention the luscious bush pastries that tempt Hansel and Gretel), though the great houses and their surroundings are only glimpsed. Some of the appeal will be wasted on American children, but travelers, even of the armchair variety, might give it a go. (Picture book/folklore. 7-9)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-8109-3740-9
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1995
BOOK REVIEW
Maggie needs to get a birthday present for her best friend Bonkers, but she's broke. To make matters worse, supercilious classmate Cynthia has been bragging about what a big present she's bought. Maggie's homemade solution involves imagination, thinking about what Bonkers really likes, and a lucky find in her grandmother's attic. Her present (gigantic oatmeal cookies, a first issue of Bonkers's favorite comic book, and a gross ``burpday'' card) is a great hit, while Cynthia's big, expensive gift is totally inappropriate. Too nice to gloat, Maggie eases Cynthia's embarrassment and the party ends happily for all. A ``Springboard'' book that's a good read-aloud or read-alone, with a humorous style that's right on target for second and third graders, cheerful b&w illustrations, and the implied message that problems aren't solved by wishing them away. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-316-32777-8
Page Count: 60
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Jack Watson has never heard of Sherlock Holmes until a new girl moves in next door; her name is Saturday Holmes; and since she has a ``nose'' for solving mysteries, she loves practicing her skills as a detective. Becoming (inevitably) this Holmes's sidekick, young Watson helps her solve three mysteries concerning some missing teddy bears and neighborhood ghosts. In his first book for younger readers, Taylor—who writes adult mysteries- -imbues both his characters and his writing style with a quaint, rather old-fashioned charm that is nicely extended in Schongut's appealing pen drawings—which reveal that this is an interracial friendship. Accessible language and the story format make this an equally good choice for reading aloud or for encouraging reluctant readers. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: March 1, 1993
ISBN: 1-56402-135-1
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1993
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