A wriggly baby manages to wriggle right past his parents and into the middle of an exciting rhyming adventure. “He slithered down the banister; he inched across the floor, / waved good-bye to the parrot . . . and skittered out the door.” Lucky for the little one that the family dog and cat seem to be in all the right places, waiting with a fluffy pillow at the base of the stairs and following along as he skips down the sidewalk. He rolls past the firehouse and then takes a detour to swing in the park. The three decide to visit the zoo, dancing with the tigers and putting on a show for the elephants. A stop at Flo’s Diner finds them stuffing their mouths with all sorts of food, but even the cuisine will not stop this baby’s travels. Somehow the baby and his furry friends manage to stay one step ahead of his parents and his adventure continues. After visiting the circus and then taking a trip to the seashore to see the whales, the baby finally realizes that maybe he’s a little lonely and he wriggles home to find his very worried parents. A wink toward his co-conspirators makes it obvious that this is not the last adventure for this trio. Ink and acrylic illustrations accompany this fanciful story; the rosy-cheeked youngster and expressive animals will make it a favorite and the bouncy rhythm is sure to have readers wriggling with pleasure. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-590-96067-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
Through quick thinking and personal sacrifice, a wise old Japanese farmer saves the people of his village from a devastating tsunami in this simple yet striking story based on Lafcadio Hearn’s “A Living God.” Ojiisan lives in a cottage on a mountain overlooking the village and sea. One day, villagers gather to celebrate the rice harvest, but Ojiisan stays home thinking “something does not feel right.” When the earth quakes and the sea darkens and runs away from the land, Ojiisan realizes a tsunami approaches. Fearing the oblivious villagers will be swept away, Ojiisan torches his rice fields to attract attention, and they respond, barely escaping the monster wave. Rendered in gouache, pastel and collage, Young’s illustrations cleverly combine natural textures, bold colors and abstract shapes to convey compelling images of chaos and disaster as the rice fields burn and the wave rushes in. In one literally breathtaking double-page spread, an enormous wall of water engulfs the teeny seacoast village. A visually powerful and dramatic tribute to one man’s willingness to sacrifice everything for others. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-399-25006-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2008
BOOK REVIEW
Momo longed to carry the blue umbrella and wear the bright red rubber boots she had been given on her third birthday. But day after day Indian summer continued. Momo tried to tell mother she needed to carry the umbrella to nursery school because the sunshine bothered her eyes. But Mother didn't let her use the umbrella then or when she said the wind bothered her. At last, though, rain fell on the city pavements and Momo carried her umbrella and wore her red boots to school. One feels the urgency of Momo's wish. The pictures are full of the city's moods and the child's joy in a rainy day.
Pub Date: March 1, 1958
ISBN: 978-0-14-050240-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1958
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