A little girl uses her driveway as a canvas, and makes a masterpiece with her box of chalk. A bright sunny day and a brand new chalk box, “with long perfect sticks all smooth and dusty,” are enough to stimulate her artistic impulses. Going through the colors one by one, Ericsson’s text has a poetic feel, and not the usual tight rhyme but a lovely lyricism: “I take a piece of grass, a spring green one, green is the grass, sprouting near the wall.” Just as she finishes her picture, with a gray cloud, it starts to rain. The colors run together and she finds . . . two rainbows! One’s in the sky and the other at her feet. Shapiro’s simple illustrations capture the rough shapes and textures of the little girl’s artwork against its more polished background. A simple, powerful message in a simple, powerful setting. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-1-59643-057-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2007
Categories: CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S
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PLB 0-8027-8649-9 The simple life cycle of a bean provides a practical and understandable example of scientific observation for budding young naturalists. Starting with a hand shown holding a single bean, readers journey full circle from soaking, planting, and watering, to flowering, harvesting, and eating. Uncluttered three-dimensional artwork complements the short, simple text; each stage of the bean’s transformation from seed to vegetable is shown in large scale, drawn so realistically that the texture of the skin seems to show the strain as the bean gets ready to put down roots. This is an ideal book for classrooms where students can’t resist the temptation to keep “checking” on their bean plants. (Picture book/nonfiction. 3-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 1998
ISBN: 0-8027-8648-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1998
Categories: CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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Spencer owns a multitude of toys: old toys and new ones, big toys and small ones, bath toys, wooden toys, board games, computer games, miniature cars and trucks, musical instruments, stuffed animals and action figures. They are everywhere, including on the floor where his parents can trip on them. One day, Spencer’s mom has had enough and announces that some of the toys have to go. Shaken, Spencer cries, “BUT I LOVE THEM ALL!” There’s no stopping Spencer’s mom, however, who says she will help and proves to be a worthy adversary when Spencer attempts to make deals. Snappy dialogue and an absolutely on-target understanding of the psyches of both mother and child make the negotiation scene absolutely priceless. Will they both make it through the harrowing task before them? The elaborate, child-friendly pictures perfectly capture Spencer’s world, zeroing in on the chaos with glee and then pulling back to demonstrate graphically the traumas suffered by both adults and child in the process. Shannon’s sardonic wit will strike a chord with parents and children alike. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-439-49029-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Blue Sky/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2008
Categories: CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S
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