by John Winch & illustrated by John Winch ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 1997
Platypus and pig, koala and kangaroo are a few of the sumptuously rendered animal visitors to an old woman's small farmhouse in the countryside. She didn't always live there—she is seen leaving the city for a home where she hopes to read, relax, and commune with nature. It's a cruel dream, for she has chores inside her farmhouse and out, and the only ones looking at books in these charming pages are the curious geese, mice, and rabbits. Spring brings an unexpected and demanding lamb, summer brings shearing, autumn brings harvest, the putting up of preserves, and the rains—wood must be chopped. Winter brings the peace she sought; the old woman opens a book on her lap, only to fall into well-earned sleep. All of it—house and inhabitants—are cunningly, winsomely painted by Winch, who makes his story gently wry. The humor here is in no way the sopping happily-ever-after sort; instead, the edges of harsh realities become heartening. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 15, 1997
ISBN: 0-8234-1281-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1997
Share your opinion of this book
More by John Winch
BOOK REVIEW
by John Winch & illustrated by John Winch
BOOK REVIEW
by John Winch & illustrated by John Winch
BOOK REVIEW
adapted by Eric A. Kimmel & illustrated by John Winch
by Marjorie Priceman & illustrated by Marjorie Priceman ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 2, 1994
What if the market was closed when you wanted to bake a pie? You could embark for Europe, learn Italian en route, and pick up some semolina wheat in Italy, an egg in France, kurundu bark for cinnamon in Sri Lanka, and an entire cow in England (butter) before coming home via Jamaica (sugar) and Vermont (apples). The expertly designed illustrations in which a dark-haired lass journeys by various means to these interesting places to get her groceries are lovely and lively, and the narrative, too, travels at a spritely pace. The journey is neither quite logical enough to be truly informative nor quite bizarre enough to be satisfyingly silly, while the rich, sweet recipe that's appended will take some adult assistance. Still, fun. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: May 2, 1994
ISBN: 0-679-83705-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1994
Share your opinion of this book
More by Marilyn Singer
BOOK REVIEW
by Marilyn Singer ; illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
BOOK REVIEW
by Elizabeth Rusch ; illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
BOOK REVIEW
by Sonia Manzano ; illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Google Rating
New York Times Bestseller
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Natalie Russell ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2017
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Google Rating
New York Times Bestseller
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Share your opinion of this book
More by Kobi Yamada
BOOK REVIEW
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Adelina Lirius
BOOK REVIEW
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Charles Santoso
BOOK REVIEW
by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Elise Hurst
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.