In a time of “castles and monasteries,” a poor young man named Simeon plays his lute for all and loves a noblewoman, Sorrel. He’s ashamed that he has little to offer her, so he goes on a journey to open himself to more music. The percussion of soldiers, the chant of monks, even the cacophony of the city inspire him, but he feels lost and overwhelmed. He trades his lute for a boat home, saves a bird, fish, and fawn who follow him on his way (musically, of course), cuts a reed from the riverbank to make a flute, and when he arrives home finds a perfect melody in his heart for Sorrel and for all. The illustrations are in Spirin’s blindingly gorgeous style: echoes of Florentine and Venetian architecture, French manuscript painting, and Renaissance portraits make a beautiful and evocative whole. The story rather bobbles and clunks along, though, with the weight of too many words and perhaps not a clear enough melody. (CD of Andrews reading) (Picture book. 6-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-06-008914-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2003
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Like many sumo matches, this awkwardly translated import is over almost before it begins. Hearing a cry for help Sumo Boy flies to the rescue, defeating a bully—“How about an open hand push . . . and an inside leg trip . . . But the winning move is the overarm throw!”—then bringing the intended victim back to the dojo for some “sumo hot pot.” Hasegawa places the grimacing, crudely drawn, loincloth-clad lad against visually bewildering backdrops of crammed city crowds and signs in Japanese. The closing pages, in which tiny figures demonstrate 36 sumo techniques with such rousing (if sometimes inscrutable) names as the “Thigh Scooping Body Drop,” and “Frontal Crush-out,” may have future manga fans lingering, but readers hoping for another crowd pleaser like David Wisniewski’s Sumo Mouse (2002) will be sadly disappointed. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-7868-3635-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2006
Burke offers an atmospheric rendition of the old baseball chestnut. To crisply drawn, exactly detailed scenes of rabid young fan Katie Casey (the song’s actual subject) in period dress and surroundings, he not only pairs all of the lyrics, but a tribute to New York Giants superstar pitcher Christy Mathewson too—with particular reference to a renowned 1908 playoff game against the archrival Chicago Cubs. He also weaves in plenty of baseball lore, from Mathewson’s grips for various pitches to the origins of Cracker Jacks and the term “hot dog.” Gilded further with a musical arrangement, a source list and even a reproduction of the song’s original manuscript, this hits a line drive straight into baseball’s storied past. Put it next to the umpteen illustrated versions of “Casey at the Bat.” (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: April 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-316-75819-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2006
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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