A richly illustrated and gracefully narrated version of a Russian tale, ``The Snow Maiden'': A snowbaby made by a childless woodsman comes to life and delights him and his wife all winter; then, coming too near a spring bonfire, ``Snowflake'' vanishes. Journeying to the north, the grieving couple begs Grandfather Frost to return their missing child and, moved by their love, he allows her to come back with the first snowfall. The vibrant illustrations, in shades of blue and violet with touches of gold and red, recall Russian folk art in their decorative motifs. A single panel may suggest different locations, the passage of time, or the stages of a journey; there are delicate borders—guardian angels with snowflake-framed faces in gorgeously patterned costumes, woodland details, and much more. More elaborate than Croll's The Little Snowgirl (1989), and for a slightly older audience. (Folklore/Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 30, 1992
ISBN: 0-02-717971-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Four Winds/MacMillan
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1992
Every year since kindergarten, Harry’s Halloween costume has gotten scarier and scarier. What’s it going to be this year? He’s not telling. His classmates are all stunned when he shows up, not as some monster or a weird alien (well, not really)—but as neatly dressed Sgt. Joe Friday of Dragnet fame, wielding a notebook and out to get “just the facts, ma’am.” As she has in Harry’s 11 previous appearances (15, counting the ones his classmate Song Lee headlines), Kline (Marvin and the Mean Words, 1997, etc.) captures grammar-school atmosphere, personalities, and incidents perfectly, from snits to science projects gone hilariously wrong. She even hands Harry/Friday a chance to exercise his sleuthing abilities, with a supply of baby powder “fairy dust” gone mysteriously missing. As legions of fans have learned to expect, Harry comes through with flying colors, pinning down the remorseful culprit in 11 minutes flat. No surprises here, just reliable, child-friendly, middle-grade fare. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-670-88864-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
When Hades sees Persephone gathering flowers in a field, he carries her off to the underworld to be his queen. Her mother Demeter is so distraught that she curses Earth with endless winter. With intervention from Zeus and other gods, Persephone is found and rejoins her mother. But she ate pomegranate seeds while in the underworld and so must spend three months each year with Hades, during which time winter occurs above ground. This pourquoi tale from ancient Greek mythology has everything to recommend it to modern readers. Clayton employs vivid imagery, powerful emotions and loads of action to convey adventure, grief, love, drama and the circle of life. Dialogue is crisp and accessible, while retaining just a hint of the formality expected of gods and goddesses. Lee’s imaginative illustrations, detailed in glowing earth tones and sweeping across double-page spreads, complement the action. In depicting the characters, she borrows features from Greek statues but manages to give them humanity. A beautiful retelling of an enduring myth. (Picture book/mythology. 7-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5349-3
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2009
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