Suppose dinosaurs dressed like people and cavorted in dances like the waltz or the hula, to the sound of disco or hard rock. Wordsmith Yolen out 17 witty poems on this theme, playing expertly with both sound ("When the allosaurus/Does a rumba/Does she lumber?/Is she limber") and sense ("Dress Code: A Sedimental Journey": ". . .A fad is a fad. . .And that's why no clothes are imprinted on stones:/Only the remnants of dinosaur bones"). Dinosaurs are sure-fire popular; the fun of Degen's lively rendition of them frolicking in fancy dress outshines Yolen's rather quietly satirical comparison with their human cousins. It's too bad that editors still don't excise casual mention of the never-existent brontosaurus; still, sprightly, clever good fun.
Pub Date: Sept. 27, 1990
ISBN: 0-399-21629-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1990
A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land.
A magical intergenerational story of gifts and cultural rituals shared between a grandmother and her granddaughter.
A Tlingit grandmother takes her young granddaughter to a nearby island for a berry-picking adventure in the forest. To alert the forest bear and the various types of berries that glow “like little jewels” of their presence, the pair sing a harvest song: “Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry.” Grandma teaches the girl that “we speak to the land…as the land speaks to us,” and “we sing too, so the land knows we are grateful.” As they gather berries in the misty rain, they listen to the sounds of insect wings, inhale the sweet scent of cedar, and feel the soft moss on tree branches. Back at home, “the kitchen glows like a summer sky” as the girl, her grandmother, her father, and her younger sister make syrup, marmalade, jelly, jam, pie, and scones to share. When winter comes, the forest is described as “dreaming, waiting for berry song.” Seasons change, marking the passage of time and leading to a bittersweet, full-circle ending. This beautifully written story by Caldecott medalist/debut author Goade features breathtaking, atmospheric artwork inspired by the wild landscape of her hometown, Sheet’ká, Alaska, and incorporates rich symbolism and imagery from Tlingit culture. A closing author’s note elucidates sacred Tlingit principles mentioned in the story, and dazzling endpapers identify different berry varieties. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 14, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-49417-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
In the large, square format of his Christmas (1983), the Caldecott medalist lovingly details a large traveling circus: their departure from winter quarters, setting up the big top, a full performance, and a last glimpse of the abandoned site in a city's rural outskirts. No surprises here, but lots of authentic minutiae to explore in the deft, evocative art (Spier thanks the people of the Big Apple Circus for their help); also a plus is the emphasis on the many nationalities of the expert performers and on the way whole families are involved. A treat. Processors beware: the endpapers are part of the story! (Picture book. 4-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-385-41969-4
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1992
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