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THE HERO TWINS

Name: THE HERO TWINS
Author: Jim Kristofic
ISBN: 978-0-8263-5533-1

A NAVAJO-ENGLISH STORY OF THE MONSTER SLAYERS

by Jim Kristofic ; illustrated by Nolan Karras James ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 2015

A thrillingly melodramatic tale kept close to its Navajo roots.

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Illustrations incorporating images drawn from traditional sand painting and pop culture alike accompany a new Navajo/English version of the early exploits of a pair of mythic heroes.

Kristofic opens with the expressed hope that he’s telling the story “in an accurate and respectful way without exposing too much of its sacredness.” He begins the tale by establishing the oppression of the Emergence People by vaguely described but monstrous naayéé’. Then Changing Woman gives birth to twins who grow up to overcome various challenges on the way to defeating Yé’iitsoh, a metal-clad giant, and earning their names: Monster Slayer (Naayéé’ neizghání) and He Who Cuts Life Out of the Enemy (Na’ídígishí). In James’ vigorous pictures, the Twins, their father, the Sun (Jó’honaa’éí), and their robotlike adversary are usually human figures with the rippling thews and poses of comic-book superheroes—but transformations occur frequently; when placed in the sky, the Sun takes an abstract form, for instance. A thrillingly scary, half-human Spider Woman headlines a cast of other stylized figures. The author doesn’t connect these Twins with others from pre-Columbian New World mythology, but he supplies a prefatory note on the cultural significance of the colors in the pictures. Throughout both the Navajo text and the English translation placed beneath, small marker icons are placed in equivalent spots so that readers can compare words and phrases.

A thrillingly melodramatic tale kept close to its Navajo roots. (Bilingual folk tale. 7-10)

Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-8263-5533-1

Page Count: 52

Publisher: Univ. of New Mexico

Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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BOOKMARKS ARE PEOPLE TOO!

From the Here's Hank series , Vol. 1

by Henry Winkler ; Lin Oliver ; illustrated by Scott Garrett ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 14, 2014

An uncomplicated opener, with some funny bits and a clear but not heavy agenda.

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Hank Zipzer, poster boy for dyslexic middle graders everywhere, stars in a new prequel series highlighting second-grade trials and triumphs.

Hank’s hopes of playing Aqua Fly, a comic-book character, in the upcoming class play founder when, despite plenty of coaching and preparation, he freezes up during tryouts. He is not particularly comforted when his sympathetic teacher adds a nonspeaking role as a bookmark to the play just for him. Following the pattern laid down in his previous appearances as an older child, he gets plenty of help and support from understanding friends (including Ashley Wong, a new apartment-house neighbor). He even manages to turn lemons into lemonade with a quick bit of improv when Nick “the Tick” McKelty, the sneering classmate who took his preferred role, blanks on his lines during the performance. As the aforementioned bully not only chokes in the clutch and gets a demeaning nickname, but is fat, boastful and eats like a pig, the authors’ sensitivity is rather one-sided. Still, Hank has a winning way of bouncing back from adversity, and like the frequent black-and-white line-and-wash drawings, the typeface is designed with easy legibility in mind.

An uncomplicated opener, with some funny bits and a clear but not heavy agenda. (Fiction. 7-9)

Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-448-48239-2

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Review Posted Online: Dec. 10, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
DETECTIVE DUCK
by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver ; illustrated by Dan Santat

- BOOK REVIEW
THE CASE OF THE MISSING TADPOLE
by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver ; illustrated by Dan Santat

- BOOK REVIEW
THE CASE OF THE STRANGE SPLASH
by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver ; illustrated by Dan Santat

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THE JUNKYARD WONDERS

by Patricia Polacco & illustrated by Patricia Polacco ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2010

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Trisha is ready to start at a new school, where no one will know she has dyslexia. At first, she is heartbroken to be in Miss Peterson’s special-ed class, aka, “the junkyard.” But Miss Peterson treats the children as anything but junk, showing them that everyone has a unique talent. Polacco’s trademark style is fully present here; her sensitively drawn alter ego shines with depth of feeling. When bullying occurs, Miss Peterson proves her students are worthwhile by planning a junkyard field trip, where they find valuable objects to be used in exciting ways. Trisha’s group repairs a plane, and the class buys an engine for it. Then a beloved class member dies, and the children must find a way to honor him. While the plot meanders somewhat, the characters are appealing, believable and provide a fine portrayal of a truly special class. Children will be drawn in by the story’s warmth and gentle humor and will leave with a spark of inspiration, an appreciation of individual differences and a firm anti-bullying message, all underscored by the author’s note that concludes the book. (Picture book. 7-10)