A well-researched, engaging, child’s-eye view of U.S. presidential history.
Theodore Roosevelt’s son Archie wants to solve the problem of rats in the White House in this illustrated children’s book based on a true story.
When Roosevelt becomes president in 1901, his family brings 43 pets to the White House. One is a rat, but 7-year-old Archie’s rodent would never cause problems in the kitchen. When cook Annie O’Rourke discovers a kitchen invader, Archie goes to his dad for help. But first Roosevelt is busy with paperwork, then with famous guests (including Booker T. Washington) and big projects (the Panama Canal, a coal strike, plans for national parks, and more). Each time, Archie knows the rats will have to wait. Inspired by one of his father’s favorite sayings, Archie encourages his siblings to hit pans in the kitchen with big sticks, trying to scare away the rats. It’s only a temporary solution, and eventually the rodents are back—until the president brings home rat terrier Skip to be Archie’s new friend: “Soon, not a rat remained in the White House.” Presenting a simplified version of many events from the Roosevelt presidency, Tabler makes the historical events approachable, whether union struggles, antitrust laws, or the invention of the teddy bear. Archie, who is a witness to both the mundane problem of rodents and the larger historical events of his father’s administration, serves as an appealing viewpoint character. The simple sentence structure makes the text accessible, and the inclusion of unfamiliar vocabulary words (hominy, a mischief of rats) will challenge independent readers. Lätti’s eye-catching illustrations are based on period photographs and closely depict the historical figures and Skip while also allowing Annie and Archie a wide range of expressions that add comedy to the events. Vivid details, including the full contingent of pets owned by the famous family and a moose head hanging from the dining room wall, enhance the feeling of what it might have been like to live in Archie’s White House. Copious notes, recipes, and references are provided for readers who want further details and citation information about the Roosevelts’ adventures.
A well-researched, engaging, child’s-eye view of U.S. presidential history.Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73-591270-7
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Basil Books
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
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