by J. Bradley Wigger ; illustrated by Jago ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2014
God is not defined or delimited in any way, so that any believer might find a way to prayer in these words.
Simplicity made plain and lovely carries a nondenominational prayer of gratitude for all that is.
Jago’s images, “rendered in digital paints and photographic textures,” are striking and occasionally startling: Layers of color combine with multiple swirling lines, waves and textures to create very clear images of adults, children, animals and the natural world. The words are not flashy, eschewing sentimentality and didacticism. A child’s voice expresses thanks for family, for home, for food, for “new words I learned today, / … / for songs sung, / and for love whispered.” There is gratitude for the whole world, as well as its plants and animals, rain and sky, night and light. The human figures may represent one family or all families, as they gather around a table or at the seashore, with differing skin tones and hair textures and a variety of ages, from babies in arms to elders using canes.
God is not defined or delimited in any way, so that any believer might find a way to prayer in these words. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5424-7
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
Share your opinion of this book
by Eric A. Kimmel ; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2013
The now-classic tale’s humor still fosters eye-rolling laughter, with Wohnoutka’s illustrations as rib-tickling complement.
A well-used trope of misidentification allows a village elder to innocently open her home to a possible predator with humorous, even endearing results.
Despite her advanced age of 97 and her poor eyesight and hearing, Bubba Brayna “still [makes] the best potato latkes in the village.” When Old Bear is awakened from his winter sleep by the savory aroma of frying latkes and comes to her door, Bubba Brayna invites him in for a fresh batch, mistaking the bear’s rotund girth and bushy face for the heavy-set bearded rabbi’s. Heading straight for the kitchen, the growling bear is encouraged to play dreidel with nuts he chooses to eat, then devours all the latkes with jam like any hungry bear would. Sleepy and satisfied, he leaves with a gift of a red woolen scarf around his neck. After some investigating by the crowd that has gathered at Bubba Brayna’s door, which includes the actual rabbi, a new batch of potatoes are brought from the cellar, and with everyone’s help, Bubba Brayna hosts a happy Hanukkah. This newly illustrated version of The Chanukkah Guest, illustrated by Giora Carmi (1990), is a softer rendition, with acrylic paints and curved lines in tints of yellow, brown and green for warm, earthy atmosphere.
The now-classic tale’s humor still fosters eye-rolling laughter, with Wohnoutka’s illustrations as rib-tickling complement. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: July 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2855-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2013
Share your opinion of this book
More by Eric A. Kimmel
BOOK REVIEW
by Eric A. Kimmel ; illustrated by Feronia Parker-Thomas
BOOK REVIEW
by Eric A. Kimmel ; illustrated by Dov Smiley
BOOK REVIEW
by Eric A. Kimmel ; illustrated by Alida Massari
by Mike Berenstain ; illustrated by Mike Berenstain ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2016
This Mother’s Day tale is rather limited in its audience to those who can afford fancy brunch after their own religious...
The Berenstains’ son adds a Mother’s Day entry to the series, continuing the adventures of the Bear family with a religious focus.
Brother, Sister, and Honey want to do something special for Mama for Mother’s Day, and Papa helps them think of just the thing—brunch at the Bear Country Inn after church—and they can invite Grizzly Gran, too. On the ride to church, Mama points out all the ways other families are celebrating their own mothers even though these community helpers are working on the holiday: Officer Marguerite’s children bring her flowers as she directs traffic, and Mrs. Ben’s children are pitching in with farm chores. Indeed, the trip to church is eye-opening for the cubs, who never realized that some of their neighbors even had children. During the church service, Preacher Brown thanks God for the gift of mothers and quotes the Bible: “Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches.” While the illustrations are the same as ever (the smiling bears haven’t aged a bit!), the series seems to have moved away from addressing a variety of families.
This Mother’s Day tale is rather limited in its audience to those who can afford fancy brunch after their own religious services, contrary to its apparent message that being together is all that matters. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-310-74869-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by Mike Berenstain ; illustrated by Mike Berenstain
by Mike Berenstain & illustrated by Mike Berenstain
More by Mike Berenstain
BOOK REVIEW
by Mike Berenstain ; illustrated by Mike Berenstain
BOOK REVIEW
by Mike Berenstain ; illustrated by Mike Berenstain
BOOK REVIEW
by Mike Berenstain & illustrated by Mike Berenstain
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
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.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.