by Judy Allen & illustrated by Tudor Humphries ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1992
A tiger is rumored to be in a South Chinese village, and the people hope to kill it (illegally): the skin is enormously valuable, and they believe the tiger meat will make them brave. Only little Lee hopes it will get away—as he tells the hunter who comes to shoot it. As the hunter stalks the tiger—observing it competing with a vulture for its kill, sharpening its claws high on a tree, stalking its own prey, or plunging into a river- -the reader is kept in suspense: always, the hunter has trouble finding the right angle or keeping the tiger in his sight for a good shot. Alert readers will be aware that the language is ambivalent: this hunter packs a camera, and Lee gets his wish while the villagers conclude that the tiger was ``only a rumor.'' The story is artfully told, but pride of place here goes to the splendid illustrations; in eloquently lovely watercolors, Humphries captures the misty rice paddies and dramatic mountains, the expressive, well-individualized faces, and—best of all—the magnificent tiger, pose after pose, in all his glory. A concluding note details the tiger's endangered status. Fine storytelling; effective plea. (Picture book. 4+)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1992
ISBN: 1-56402-083-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1992
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by Pete Seeger & Paul Dubois Jacobs & illustrated by Michael Hays ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2001
The seemingly ageless Seeger brings back his renowned giant for another go in a tuneful tale that, like the art, is a bit sketchy, but chockful of worthy messages. Faced with yearly floods and droughts since they’ve cut down all their trees, the townsfolk decide to build a dam—but the project is stymied by a boulder that is too huge to move. Call on Abiyoyo, suggests the granddaughter of the man with the magic wand, then just “Zoop Zoop” him away again. But the rock that Abiyoyo obligingly flings aside smashes the wand. How to avoid Abiyoyo’s destruction now? Sing the monster to sleep, then make it a peaceful, tree-planting member of the community, of course. Seeger sums it up in a postscript: “every community must learn to manage its giants.” Hays, who illustrated the original (1986), creates colorful, if unfinished-looking, scenes featuring a notably multicultural human cast and a towering Cubist fantasy of a giant. The song, based on a Xhosa lullaby, still has that hard-to-resist sing-along potential, and the themes of waging peace, collective action, and the benefits of sound ecological practices are presented in ways that children will both appreciate and enjoy. (Picture book. 5-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-689-83271-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2001
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by Pete Seeger & Paul Dubois Jacobs & illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
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by Janice Boland & illustrated by G. Brian Karas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
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